Abstract
Junk food consumption (JFC) is increasing and it is common mostly among schoolchildren and adolescents (SCA). The consequences of JFC have become a public health concern. The study aims to explore the factors associated with the JFC among SCA using the socioecological model (SEM). Electronic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, ResearchGate, and bibliographic references were used to obtain the related papers following the standard process of identification, screening, eligibility assessment, study quality assessment, and data extraction from the selected articles. Strengthening the reporting of observational studies in the epidemiological (STROBE) checklist was used to assess the quality standards of the papers. Out of the 785 papers, we synthesized the results from 22 quantitative articles based on merits. The findings of the study indicate that JFC behavior among the SCA is influenced by multilevel factors that extend from intrapersonal to public policy through interpersonal, organizational, and community levels. The results of the study suggest that more than two-thirds, more than one-third, near to one-third, and half of them supported with microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, and macrosystem constructs of the SEM respectively. However, age, sex/gender, taste and pleasure of eating junk food, knowledge of junk food and attitude towards dietary choices of the microsystem (individual factors) and mass media exposure and marketing strategies of the macrosystem (public policy factors) remain the most influencing systems. The results indicate that individual and public policy level constructs are important to explaining JFC among the SCA. This implies that the researchers and policymakers need to consider multilevel factors while designing and implementing the school-based nutrition education programme to promote healthy dietary outcomes in the SCA.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.