Factors associated with junk food consumption among urban school students in Kathmandu District of Nepal

Abstract

People’s lifestyle turns toward unhealthy dietary pattern as high availability of junk food products. Although consumption of junk food is one of the problem of non-communicable disease, the research on junk food consumption in Nepal particularly among teenage students has not well documented. The adverse effects of junk food on teenage physical and psychological health are both evident. Therefore, factors associated with junk food consumption among teenage students with grade 6, 7 and 8 in urban schools were investigated in this study.

The data collection for this cross-sectional analytical study was conducted during March to April 2018. A sample of 440 students aged 10-18 years with grade 6, 7, and 8 were randomly drawn from 22 selected public and private schools. Students were selected using two-stage cluster random sampling using inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data were collected through face-to-face interview with in school premise using structured questionnaire. Chi-square test and multiple logistic regression were used to determine the association between independent variables and junk food consumption.

The result showed that the 11.8% was at a high level of the junk food consumption and 88.2% was at a low level with the cutoff point of 85 th Percentile (P 85). A total 6 variables were significantly associated in Chi-square test. In multiple logistic regression, after adjusting for other factors, 3 variables were significantly associated with junk food consumption: high daily allowance/pocket money of students (Adj OR=2.51, 95% CI=1.36-4.63), high influence to have junk food from parents. (Adj OR=2.69,95% CI=1.46-4.96) and high influence from friends (Adj OR=3.12, 95% CI=1.40-6.93).

In conclusion, schools and home environments are major influencing factors for student’s junk food consumption. Therefore, parents and school authority should cooperate to implement health promotion programs and campaigns to reduce of junk food consumption among school-age children.