Between Rationality and Self-protection: Student-Constructed Arguments on Fast Food Consumption and Antibiotic Overuse as Public Health Issues in Biology Education

BackgroundThe association between the residential fast food environment and diet has gained growing attention. However, why the food environment affects food consumption is under-examined. This study aimed to investigate neighbourhood social norms with respect to fast food consumption as a potential mediating pathway between residential fast food outlet exposure and residents’ fast food consumption.MethodsA correlational study was conducted in which a nationwide sample of 1038 respondents living across The Netherlands completed a survey. Respondents reported their fast food consumption (amount/week) as well as perceived descriptive and injunctive norms regarding fast food consumption in their neighbourhood. Fast food outlet exposure was measured by the average count of fast food outlets within a 400 m walking distance buffer around the zip-codes of the respondents, using a retail outlet database. Regression models were used to assess associations between residential fast food outlet exposure, fast food consumption, and social norm perceptions, and a bootstrapping procedure was used to test the indirect -mediation- effect. Separate analyses were performed for descriptive norms and injunctive norms.ResultsThere was no overall or direct association between residential fast food outlet exposure and residents’ fast food consumption. However, fast food outlet exposure was positively associated with neighbourhood social norms (descriptive and injunctive) regarding fast food consumption, which in turn were positively associated with the odds of consuming fast food. Moreover, results of the bootstrapped analysis provided evidence of indirect effects of fast food outlet exposure on fast food consumption, via descriptive norms and injunctive norms.ConclusionsIn neighbourhoods with more fast food outlets, residents were more likely to perceive fast food consumption in the neighbourhood as more common and appropriate. In turn, stronger neighbourhood social norms were associated with higher fast food consumption. Acknowledging the correlational design, this study is the first that implies that neighbourhood social norms may be a mediating pathway in the relation between the residential fast food environment and fast food consumption. Future research may examine the role of neighbourhood social norms in other contexts and explore how the changing food environment may shift our consumption norms.

Fast Food Consumption and Breakfast Skipping: Predictors of Weight Gain from Adolescence to Adulthood in a Nationally Representative Sample

Association between household socioeconomic level and consumption of fast food and soft drinks: a cross-sectional assessment of the Young Lives cohort in Peru

Background: Fast food and junk food consumption among adolescents is a growing public health concern due to its association with various health risks. This study aims to investigate the perception and factors influencing fast food and junk food consumption among high school students in Bogura Town. Methods: This study employed a mixed-methods approach, involving a cross-sectional survey and semi-structured interviews. The study sample consisted of 384 high school students aged 11 to 19 years. Data were collected using a semi structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Results: The majority of participants were aged 14-16 years (58.07%), with a higher proportion of females (66.15%). Most participants resided in urban areas (95.31%) and came from nuclear families (87.24%). Nearly half of the participants were underweight (46.61%), while 45.57% had a healthy weight. Half of the participants consumed less than three major meals daily, and breakfast was the most skipped meal (41.15%). Fast food consumption at school was high (74.48%), with significant instant food consumption at home (78.13%). Factors influencing fast food consumption included taste (83.33%), accessibility (51.82%), and social media influence (61.46%). Awareness of balanced diets was low (27.34%), and most participants recognized the negative health impacts of fast food, such as obesity (94.53%) and heart disease (87.76%). Conclusion: The study highlights significant trends in fast food and junk food consumption among high school students, driven by taste, accessibility, and social influences. The findings underscore the need for targeted nutritional education and interventions to improve dietary habits and reduce health risks among adolescents.

Introduction: Adolescence and young adulthood are important periods for the development of dietary behaviors. We hypothesized that as adolescents transitioned to young adulthood, breakfast consumption would increase and fast food and sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption would decrease. Methods: Project EAT is a 10-year, population-based, longitudinal study of multiethnic Minnesotans, aged 11-18 at baseline (1999). Participants (n=1,581) reported their frequency of breakfast consumption, eating at fast food restaurants, and drinking SSBs at each of 3 survey periods: EAT-I in 1999, EAT-II in 2004, and EAT-III in 2009. We studied changes in dietary behaviors as participants aged from early/middle adolescence (EAT-I, ages 16-23) to late adolescence (EAT-II, ages 16-23) to young adulthood (EAT-III, ages 21-31). We estimated prevalences of behaviors with logistic regression adjusting for demographics, and weighted by a propensity-to-respond method to reflect the socio-demographic diversity of the full EAT-I sample (gender: 43% (n=680) male; race/ethnicity: 54% (854) white, 14% (221) black, 5.5% (87) Hispanic, 19% (300) Asian, 7.5% (119) mixed/other). Results: Dietary behaviors changed significantly across the study period, with gender differences in the patterns of breakfast and fast food consumption (table). During the transition from late adolescence to young adulthood, regular breakfast consumption (5+ times/week) increased among both females and males, and frequent fast food consumption (3+ times/week) declined among females. Among males, regular breakfast consumption declined between early/middle adolescence and late adolescence. Daily SSB consumption declined from late adolescence to young adulthood. Conclusion: Breakfast consumption increased and fast food and SSB consumption decreased during the transition from late adolescence to young adulthood. The possibility of gender differences in dietary changes merits further study. Table. Multivariable-adjusted 1 prevalence estimates of breakfast, fast food, and sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption among Project EAT participants in early/middle adolescence, late adolescence, and young adulthood. Project EAT-I (1999) Early/Middle Adolescence Project EAT-II (2004) Late Adolescence Project EAT-III (2009) Young Adulthood Age range 11-18 years 16-23 years 21-31 years Prevalence,% (95% CI) Prevalence, % (95% CI) Prevalence, % (95% CI) Breakfast (5+ times/week) Males 2 43.6 (35.8-51.7) 31.2 (27.1-35.6) 44.3 (36.2-52.7) Females 31.7 (25.4-38.8) 32.0 (28.4-35.7) 59.1 (51.3-66.4) Fast food (3+ times/week) Males 3 21.7 (15.4-27.4) 30.6 (26.6-35.0) 25.3 (18.8-33.2) Females 19.4 (14.5-25.5) 24.3 (20.9-28.0) 12.2 (8.5-17.3) SSB (1+ servings/day) Males 4 57.4 (49.4-65.1) 53.4 (48.5-58.1) 30.6 (23.6-38.7) Females 45.8 (38.4-53.3) 39.4 (35.7-43.3) 21.0 (15.8-27.2) 1 Adjusted for age, race, and baseline socioeconomic status of the participant's parents. 2 Gender by study interaction term p-value<0.0001. 3 Gender by study interaction term p-value=0.0008. 4 Gender by study interaction term p-value=0.83.

Background: Obesity is currently a major public health issue in all over the world. Food is important for survival. Consumption of fast foods has become almost a global phenomenon. India’s fast-food industry is expanding at the rate of 40% every year. India ranks 10th in the fast-food per capita spending with 2.1% of expenditure in annual total spending1. Aim: The aim of the study was to identify the level of knowledge, attitude and practice regarding Neighborhood fast food availability and fast-food consumption among households in selected urban area, in Puducherry”, to find out the correlation between knowledge and attitude regarding neighbourhood fast food availability and fast-food consumption among households and to find association of level of knowledge and attitude regarding neighbourhood fast food availability and fast-food consumption among households with selected demographic variables. Subjects and Methods: A descriptive cross sectional research was conducted among 50households in Lawspet area Puducherry, by convenience sampling technique, quantitative approach. Data was collected by using self-structured questionnaire developed by the investigator. Interview method was used to collect socio demographic data and to assess the level of knowledge, attitude and practice regarding Neighborhood fast food availability and fast-food consumption. Results: The study result shows that 50 households out of 34(68%) had moderate knowledge, 35(70%) had positive attitude, 21(42%) of them prefer favourite fast-food place is road side shop/restaurants, 2(40%) used to spend on fast food daily a average amount of above Rs.80 and 31(62%) were aware about fast foods through advertisement, social media and by the newspaper. Conclusion: The study concluded that households in urban area prefer fast food that there was a moderate knowledge, had positive attitude, eat fast food few times a month, favourite fast-food place prefer at road side shop/restaurants, Everyone spend Rs. 80/- on fast food daily aware about fast foods consumptions and In effect but prefer more fast food leads obesity. Community health nurse play effective role in teaching public about the effect of fast-food consumption and avoidance of fast foods. Researcher created awareness to to avoid fast foods and fast-food consumption to all households by distributing pamphlets.

Objective: To assess fast food and sugar-sweetened beverages consumption patterns among medical studentsalong with associated factors and to determine the association between intake of these items and body massindex.Study Design: Cross-sectional study.Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Department of Community Medicine, LahoreMedical and Dental College, Lahore, Pakistan from May 2023 to September 2023.Methods: A convenience sampling technique was used to recruit 146 MBBS students. Using a structuredquestionnaire, information was obtained on the background of participants, fast food and sugar-sweetenedbeverages consumption, and their body mass index. Chi-square test was applied to find an association betweenvariables with p ≤ 0.05 taken as significant.Results: The study included 60% females and 52% boarders. Mothers of 6% of students and fathers of 12% ofstudents were doctors. The mean body mass index was 22.43±3.51. Frequent consumption of fast food was36% and of sugar-sweetened beverages was 12%. The most frequently consumed items were salty snacks (77%)and regular soda (67%). A significant relationship was found between fast food consumption with residence,the mother's profession, and awareness about nutritional information. Consumption of sugar-sweetenedbeverages was significantly related to gender and knowledge about the harmful effects of these beverages. Thebody mass index of students significantly increased with an increase in the use of sugar-sweetened beveragesand was inversely associated with fast food consumption.Conclusion: Consumption of fast food and sugar-sweetened beverages was high among study participants.Salty snacks and soda drinks were frequently consumed items. There is an immediate need for national policiesand strategies to create a healthy dietary environment among students. How to cite this: Maqbool S, Daud S, Saad KAD, Ahmad MS, Idress B, Ejaz K. Pattern of Fast Food and Sugar Sweetened Beverages Consumption Among Students of Lahore Medical and Dental College, Lahore. Life and Science. 2024; 5(2): 172-180. doi: http://doi.org/10.37185/LnS.1.1.621

Healthy diet is an essential component in cancer survivorship care planning. Cancer survivors should be particularly prudent regarding their daily food choices, with an aim of ensuring safe consumption, reducing risk of recurrence or other comorbidity, and improving quality of life. We aimed to examine the impacts of fast-food and full-service restaurant consumption on daily energy and nutrient intakes among US adult cancer survivors. Nationally representative data of 1308 adult cancer survivors came from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2012 waves. First-difference estimator was adopted to address confounding bias from time-invariant unobservables like personal food/beverage preferences by using within-individual variations in diet and restaurant consumption status between two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls. Fast-food and full-service restaurant consumption, respectively, was associated with an increase in daily total energy intake by 125.97 and 152.26 kcal and sodium intake by 312.47 and 373.75 mg. Fast-food consumption was significantly associated with a decrease in daily vitamin A intake by 119.88 µg and vitamin K intake by 30.48 µg, whereas full-service restaurant consumption was associated with an increase in daily fat intake by 8.99 g and omega-6 fatty acid intake by 3.85 g, and a decrease in vitamin D intake by 0.93 µg. Compared with fast-food and full-service restaurant consumption at home, consumption away from home led to further reduced diet quality. Individualized nutrition counseling and food assistance programs should address cancer survivors' overall dining-out behavior rather than fast-food consumption alone.

A growing body of literature has examined the determinants of childhood obesity, but little is known about children’s subjective wellbeing. To fulfill this gap, this paper examines the effects of fast food and soft drink consumption on children’s overweight and unhappiness. Using a nationwide survey data in Taiwan and estimating a simultaneous mixed equation system, our results generally suggest a tradeoff in policy implication. Fast food and soft drink consumption tend to be positively associated with children’s increased risk of being overweight but they are also negatively associated with their degree of unhappiness. Current and future policy/program interventions that aim to decrease fast food and soft drinks consumption of children to reduce childhood obesity may be more effective if these interventions also focus on ways that could compensate the increase in degree of unhappiness among children.

Fast Food and Obesity: A Spatial Analysis in a Large United Kingdom Population of Children Aged 13–15

Trends in Fast-Food and Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption and Their Association with Social Environmental Status in South Korea

Objective: Few studies have related nutritional factors with quality of life in healthy populations. Our aim was to analyze the relationship between commercial bakery, fast food or soft drinks consumption and mental and physical quality of life. Study Design: This analysis included 8335 participants from the Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra (SUN) Project (a multipurpose, dynamic cohort). Methods: The consumption of commercial bakery, fast food and soft drinks was assessed through a validated food-frequency questionnaire at baseline. Quality of life was measured after 4 years of follow-up with the Short-Form 36 (SF-36) Health Survey. Generalized Linear Models were fit to assess the regression coefficients (b) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for the association between commercial bakery, fast food and soft drinks consumption and each domain and the two standardized measures of the SF-36. Results: As compared to the participants in the lowest quintile of consumption, those participants in the highest quintile of consumption of commercial bakery, fast food and soft drinks showed a score significantly lower (>2 points) for vitality (b = -2.14, 95% CI = -3.31 to -0.96), role emotional (b = -2.23, 95% CI = -4.33 to -0.13), and role physical (b = -2.31, 95% IC = -4.26 to -0.36) domains with statistically significant dose-response relationships (p for trend < 0.05). When the food groups were analysed separately, significant inverse associations were found only for commercial bakery and fast-food consumption. Conclusions: The results suggest that high consumption of commercial bakery, fast-food and soft drinks at baseline was associated with worse scores on self-perceived quality of life. This association was stronger for the mental domains of the SF-36.

The authors examined associations among fast-food consumption, diet, and neighborhood fast-food exposure by using 2000-2002 Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis data. US participants (n = 5,633; aged 45-84 years) reported usual fast-food consumption (never, <1 time/week, or > or =1 times/week) and consumption near home (yes/no). Healthy diet was defined as scoring in the top quintile of the Alternate Healthy Eating Index or bottom quintile of a Western-type dietary pattern. Neighborhood fast-food exposure was measured by densities of fast-food outlets, participant report, and informant report. Separate logistic regression models were used to examine associations of fast-food consumption and diet; fast-food exposure and consumption near home; and fast-food exposure and diet adjusted for site, age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, and income. Those never eating fast food had a 2-3-times higher odds of having a healthy diet versus those eating fast food > or =1 times/week, depending on the dietary measure. For every standard deviation increase in fast-food exposure, the odds of consuming fast food near home increased 11%-61% and the odds of a healthy diet decreased 3%-17%, depending on the model. Results show that fast-food consumption and neighborhood fast-food exposure are associated with poorer diet. Interventions that reduce exposure to fast food and/or promote individual behavior change may be helpful.

Economic preferences and fast food consumption in US adults: Insights from behavioral economics

Introduction: A high consumption of carbonated soft drinks (i.e., soda drinks) and fast food is potentially associated with the observed global rise in adolescent allergic diseases. Thus, our study aimed to examine the potential associations between the consumption of soda drinks and fast food and allergic conditions, identifying specific relationships across subgroups and each allergic condition (asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis). Methods: This study uses large-scale data from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey (total n = 865,614). Soda drinks and fast food were defined by a self-reported questionnaire and allergic conditions by physician-diagnosed within 1 year. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the weighted odds ratios (ORs), along with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), for allergic diseases associated with the intake of soda drinks and fast food. Results: Among 865,614 adolescents in grades 7–12 (male, 51.40%), patients with asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis were 18,568 (2.15%), 153,536 (17.74%), and 59,014 (6.82%), respectively. Current asthma was associated with soda drinks (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.03–1.12) and fast food consumption (1.25; 1.17–1.33). Interestingly, stronger associations were observed for female high schoolers, compared to male high schoolers and middle schoolers, in relation to the consumption of soda drinks (1.31; 1.19–1.44) and fast food (1.46; 1.26–1.69) with asthma. Current allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis had no significant association with fast food consumption and soda drinks. Conclusion: This first large-scale study suggests that fast food and soda drinks consumption are potentially associated with current asthma, with stronger associations observed in females than males, underscoring the need for sex-specific allergy prevention programs.