Transformation of Fast Food Culture in Rural Adolescents: Evidence from a study in Prayagraj

Abstract

Introduction: Fast foods are known as empty calorie foods. Over the past decades, the consumption of fast foods has increased worldwide. Increasing menace of fast food consumption is gradually being realized in rural areas. Objectives: To find out extent, pattern and associates of knowledge, opinion and consumption of fast food by rural adolescents. Materials and Methods: This community based cross sectional study was conducted on 213 adolescents selected by multistage sampling procedure from rural Prayagraj. Each subject was interviewed about socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, opinion, and consumption of fast foods with the help of predesigned and pretested proforma. Analysis of data was done through SPSS and for finding out associates c² test was applied. Results: In all 40.4% subjects agreed to the statement “Fast food fulfils hunger.” As much as 62.4% subjects felt energetic after eating fast food. Effect of fast food consumption on mental health was stated by 84.5% subjects. According to 71.4% subjects nutrition information influenced their choice of fast foods “sometimes”. There existed significant association of opinion of subjects regarding fast food fulfills hunger with type of family, social class of subjects (P<0.01) whereas, opinion of subjects "Feel energetic after eating fast food" was significantly associated with their gender, type of family and social class (P<0.05). Consumption of fast food was significantly more in subjects from nuclear family and higher SES (P<0.01). Conclusion: Socio Economic gradient prevailed in the expression of the opinions “the fast food fulfill hunger” and “Feel energetic after eating fast food” as well as consumption of fast food by subjects.