Healthy Eating Index and Lipid Profile of Franchised Fast-Food Consumers in Nigeria

Abstract

Humans need food throughout life, while all foods provide essential nutrients and energy and when consumed leads to healthy growth and development and in another way, it may lead to disorders and diseases. To assess the healthy eating index, the lipid profile of fast-food consumers in Nigeria using Lagos State as a case study. The study was aimed to find the frequency of fast-food consumption to traditional food, relationship between fast food consumption and Healthy Eating Index (HEI), relationship between HEI and blood pressure and effect of HEI on lipid profile. A cross-sectional study was carried out on a sample of people patronizing franchised fast food in Nigeria using one of the highly populated industrial states, Lagos. Three hundred subjects (male and female) no less than age 12 years, using a simple random sampling method considering ten local governments in the State. The subjects on a specific diet, suffering from any disease were not considered for the study as exclusion criteria. Questionnaires contained different sections, socio-demographic characteristics, measurement of anthropometric, lifestyle history of diseases and frequency of fast-food consumption were used. The study showed that while many respondents (42.75%) consume fast food daily, no significant difference existed between HEI and fast-food consumers, a significant difference occurred in the variables used for HEI and lipid profile, except in HDL. The study also showed no significant difference between the blood pressure of respondents and fast-food consumption. Good quality diet has a positive effect on human health.