Young adults’ consideration of their food choices a propos consequences for their future health

Abstract

Many researchers have devoted much time and effort to explain the undesirable health outcomes associated with an excessive intake of certain types of fast foods. Particularly vulnerable, are young adults who move out of their parents' homes to live on their own, and then begin to rely on the multitude of so‐called “food away from home” options which are convenient, available and even desirable in their social circles. This study investigated young adults' consideration of the consequences of their consumption of food eaten away from home due to concern about unacceptable habitual behaviour that might negatively affect their future households. The survey involved 395 young adults up to 25 years of age who completed a structured questionnaire which relied on an established Consideration of Future Consequences scale. Data analysis involved exploratory factor analysis, t‐tests and Anova. Findings revealed some concern about the immediate consequences of respondents' fast food consumption, but concern about the future consequences seemed rather distant in their minds. Although significant differences were confirmed within gender and among population groups with regard to immediate concern about their fast food consumption, the means were nevertheless low throughout indicating that much needs to be done to sensitize young people about every day food consumption that might have dire consequences for their future health.

In their own words: A qualitative study exploring influences on the food choices of university students

“…Working emerging adults, however, appear to place little importance on the prevention of chronic disease because they believe this will not affect them until they are much older . Consequently, the consumption of healthy food is not considered a priority, as there is no sense of urgency regarding the importance of food choices for health and wellbeing . Further investigation is needed to explore if university students also have this perception.…”

“…17 Consequently, the consumption of healthy food is not considered a priority, as there is no sense of urgency regarding the importance of food choices for health and wellbeing. 6,17,18 Further investigation is needed to explore if university students also have this perception.…”

Food consumption, lifestyle patterns, and body mass index of a group of white South African students

“…A paper‐based survey questionnaire applied and validated in previous research on young adults in the South African context was used to collect data on the food choice and other food‐related behaviors of the study group (Fisher, Erasmus, & Viljoen, ). Questionnaires were distributed by using the drop‐off, collect later method to allow respondents to complete the questionnaire in their own time without any direct assistance or intervention from the researcher.…”

Time orientation and construal level: effects on eating and exercising behaviour and preferences

“…Results showed that eating behaviour was predicted by CFC-food/immediate, but not by CFC-food/future, whereas exactly the opposite pattern of results appeared for exercising behaviour, which was predicted by CFC-exercise/future, but not by CFC-exercise/ immediate. Additionally, it has been found that young adults do consider the immediate, but not the future, consequences of their food consumption (Fisher et al, 2016). Another study, however, found that both CFC-food subscales predicted eating behaviour, such that CFC-food/future predicted more healthy eating behaviour and CFC-food/immediate predicted less healthy eating behaviour (Dassen et al, 2015).…”