Patterns and Reasons for Junk Food Consumption among Young Adults: A Mixed Methods Study from a Medical College in South India
Background and Aim: Food item that has little nutritive value, high fat, and sugar content with little to no fiber content is labeled as junk food. The objective of the study is to assess the patterns of consumption of junk food among young adults and to explore the reasons for junk food consumption...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2024-01-01
|
| Series: | Archives of Medicine and Health Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/amhs.amhs_129_23 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832590654612439040 |
|---|---|
| author | Poonam Ramesh Naik S. Vineetha Nagendra Navya |
| author_facet | Poonam Ramesh Naik S. Vineetha Nagendra Navya |
| author_sort | Poonam Ramesh Naik |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background and Aim:
Food item that has little nutritive value, high fat, and sugar content with little to no fiber content is labeled as junk food. The objective of the study is to assess the patterns of consumption of junk food among young adults and to explore the reasons for junk food consumption among young adults.
Materials and Methods:
Mixed method study consisting of quantitative phase involving interviews with 116 students from a Medical College using a semi-structured, validated questionnaire circulated through Google Forms followed by an depth interview of 10 participants for qualitative phase.
Results:
In the study, it was observed that (62.2%) eat junk food during snack time. Students staying with friends (35.3%) consumed more junk food compared to the ones staying with family (13.8%). The most common reasons for junk food consumption were its good taste (77.6%) and (68.1%) convenience. It is observed that maximum consumption of junk food is seen when meeting their friends (70.7%) and on special occasions (61.2%). French fries (69.8%) were the most common junk food consumed although (76.7%) felt that junk food is unhealthy. The qualitative interview also supported the findings that the most common reasons for junk food consumption were craving, inexpensive, taste, and poor taste of hostel food.
Conclusion:
The above study concluded that majority of the students consumed junk food when staying with friends and due to its good taste and convenience and to spend quality time with their family and on special occasions. Participants were aware that junk food is unhealthy but consume it because it is delicious while being pocket friendly. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2525a7c450564101ad28493f7b9d1b72 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2321-4848 2321-6085 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Archives of Medicine and Health Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-2525a7c450564101ad28493f7b9d1b722025-01-23T08:50:21ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsArchives of Medicine and Health Sciences2321-48482321-60852024-01-01121828710.4103/amhs.amhs_129_23Patterns and Reasons for Junk Food Consumption among Young Adults: A Mixed Methods Study from a Medical College in South IndiaPoonam Ramesh NaikS. VineethaNagendra NavyaBackground and Aim: Food item that has little nutritive value, high fat, and sugar content with little to no fiber content is labeled as junk food. The objective of the study is to assess the patterns of consumption of junk food among young adults and to explore the reasons for junk food consumption among young adults. Materials and Methods: Mixed method study consisting of quantitative phase involving interviews with 116 students from a Medical College using a semi-structured, validated questionnaire circulated through Google Forms followed by an depth interview of 10 participants for qualitative phase. Results: In the study, it was observed that (62.2%) eat junk food during snack time. Students staying with friends (35.3%) consumed more junk food compared to the ones staying with family (13.8%). The most common reasons for junk food consumption were its good taste (77.6%) and (68.1%) convenience. It is observed that maximum consumption of junk food is seen when meeting their friends (70.7%) and on special occasions (61.2%). French fries (69.8%) were the most common junk food consumed although (76.7%) felt that junk food is unhealthy. The qualitative interview also supported the findings that the most common reasons for junk food consumption were craving, inexpensive, taste, and poor taste of hostel food. Conclusion: The above study concluded that majority of the students consumed junk food when staying with friends and due to its good taste and convenience and to spend quality time with their family and on special occasions. Participants were aware that junk food is unhealthy but consume it because it is delicious while being pocket friendly.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/amhs.amhs_129_23junk foodsmixed method studyreasonsyoung adults |
| spellingShingle | Poonam Ramesh Naik S. Vineetha Nagendra Navya Patterns and Reasons for Junk Food Consumption among Young Adults: A Mixed Methods Study from a Medical College in South India Archives of Medicine and Health Sciences junk foods mixed method study reasons young adults |
| title | Patterns and Reasons for Junk Food Consumption among Young Adults: A Mixed Methods Study from a Medical College in South India |
| title_full | Patterns and Reasons for Junk Food Consumption among Young Adults: A Mixed Methods Study from a Medical College in South India |
| title_fullStr | Patterns and Reasons for Junk Food Consumption among Young Adults: A Mixed Methods Study from a Medical College in South India |
| title_full_unstemmed | Patterns and Reasons for Junk Food Consumption among Young Adults: A Mixed Methods Study from a Medical College in South India |
| title_short | Patterns and Reasons for Junk Food Consumption among Young Adults: A Mixed Methods Study from a Medical College in South India |
| title_sort | patterns and reasons for junk food consumption among young adults a mixed methods study from a medical college in south india |
| topic | junk foods mixed method study reasons young adults |
| url | https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/amhs.amhs_129_23 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT poonamrameshnaik patternsandreasonsforjunkfoodconsumptionamongyoungadultsamixedmethodsstudyfromamedicalcollegeinsouthindia AT svineetha patternsandreasonsforjunkfoodconsumptionamongyoungadultsamixedmethodsstudyfromamedicalcollegeinsouthindia AT nagendranavya patternsandreasonsforjunkfoodconsumptionamongyoungadultsamixedmethodsstudyfromamedicalcollegeinsouthindia |