Association of sociodemographic factors and television food advertisements with junk food consumption among a sample of adolescents aged 13 to 17 in Magura district, Bangladesh: a cross-sectional survey

Abstract Objectives The aim of this study was to examine the association of sociodemographic factors and television advertisements with junk food consumption among adolescents aged 13 to 17 in Bangladesh. Methods This cross-sectional study included 326 adolescent-parent pairs from secondary educatio...

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Main Authors: Shammy Akter, Md. Hasan Al Banna, Justice Kanor Tetteh, Trisha Mallick, Bably Sabina Azhar, Joytun Nahar, Masuma Chowdhury, Addah Graham Gilbert Wilfred, Sumaia Sahrin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-06-01
Series:BMC Nutrition
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-025-01101-6
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author Shammy Akter
Md. Hasan Al Banna
Justice Kanor Tetteh
Trisha Mallick
Bably Sabina Azhar
Joytun Nahar
Masuma Chowdhury
Addah Graham Gilbert Wilfred
Sumaia Sahrin
author_facet Shammy Akter
Md. Hasan Al Banna
Justice Kanor Tetteh
Trisha Mallick
Bably Sabina Azhar
Joytun Nahar
Masuma Chowdhury
Addah Graham Gilbert Wilfred
Sumaia Sahrin
author_sort Shammy Akter
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objectives The aim of this study was to examine the association of sociodemographic factors and television advertisements with junk food consumption among adolescents aged 13 to 17 in Bangladesh. Methods This cross-sectional study included 326 adolescent-parent pairs from secondary education establishments at Magura municipal areas of Bangladesh. A validated structured survey questionnaire was utilized. Socio-demographic details, junk consumption frequency and types of information sought from food packages were asked from the adolescents. The outcome of this study was assessed using a single question (≤ 1 time, 2–3 times or > 3 times): How many times a week do you usually eat junk foods? Parents’ concerns about the television advertisements for children’ food products also assessed. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was applied. Results Almost half of the participated adolescents (48.16%) reported they consumed junk food > 3 times a week. Our study found that adolescent boys [Odds ratio, OR adjusted=3.45; 95% confidence interval, CI = 1.60, 7.43] and those who studied in class eight [OR adjusted=5.78; 95% CI = 1.33, 25.17] had a higher probability of consuming junk food > 3 times a week compared to their respective counterparts. Participants whose mothers had tertiary education were less likely to consume junk food > 3 times [OR adjusted=0.28; 95%CI = 0.02, 0.23] a week than their counterparts. Additionally, adolescents’ junk food consumption frequency was significantly associated with their parental concern regarding the timing of television advertisements and the advertisements of unhealthy food products when children watch television. Conclusion Several sociodemographic factors, such as adolescent’s gender, study class, mother’s education and occupation, and parental concerns regarding television advertisements were found to be associated with increased junk food consumption frequency. Policymakers and nutrition experts may use these data to modify food labelling and television commercial rules in order to develop family-oriented interventions to improve diet quality and health indicators.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2055-0928
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher BMC
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series BMC Nutrition
spelling doaj-art-a9550a129144436c95aa7f632b93eded2025-08-20T03:25:15ZengBMCBMC Nutrition2055-09282025-06-0111111310.1186/s40795-025-01101-6Association of sociodemographic factors and television food advertisements with junk food consumption among a sample of adolescents aged 13 to 17 in Magura district, Bangladesh: a cross-sectional surveyShammy Akter0Md. Hasan Al Banna1Justice Kanor Tetteh2Trisha Mallick3Bably Sabina Azhar4Joytun Nahar5Masuma Chowdhury6Addah Graham Gilbert Wilfred7Sumaia Sahrin8Department of Applied Nutrition and Food Technology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Islamic UniversityDepartment of Food Microbiology, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology UniversityDepartment of Population and Health, University of Cape Coast, University Post OfficeDepartment of Environmental Sanitation, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology UniversityDepartment of Applied Nutrition and Food Technology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Islamic UniversityDepartment of Applied Nutrition and Food Technology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Islamic UniversityDepartment of Applied Nutrition and Food Technology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Islamic UniversityDepartment of Nursing, University of Energy and Natural ResourcesDepartment of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Patuakhali Science and Technology UniversityAbstract Objectives The aim of this study was to examine the association of sociodemographic factors and television advertisements with junk food consumption among adolescents aged 13 to 17 in Bangladesh. Methods This cross-sectional study included 326 adolescent-parent pairs from secondary education establishments at Magura municipal areas of Bangladesh. A validated structured survey questionnaire was utilized. Socio-demographic details, junk consumption frequency and types of information sought from food packages were asked from the adolescents. The outcome of this study was assessed using a single question (≤ 1 time, 2–3 times or > 3 times): How many times a week do you usually eat junk foods? Parents’ concerns about the television advertisements for children’ food products also assessed. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was applied. Results Almost half of the participated adolescents (48.16%) reported they consumed junk food > 3 times a week. Our study found that adolescent boys [Odds ratio, OR adjusted=3.45; 95% confidence interval, CI = 1.60, 7.43] and those who studied in class eight [OR adjusted=5.78; 95% CI = 1.33, 25.17] had a higher probability of consuming junk food > 3 times a week compared to their respective counterparts. Participants whose mothers had tertiary education were less likely to consume junk food > 3 times [OR adjusted=0.28; 95%CI = 0.02, 0.23] a week than their counterparts. Additionally, adolescents’ junk food consumption frequency was significantly associated with their parental concern regarding the timing of television advertisements and the advertisements of unhealthy food products when children watch television. Conclusion Several sociodemographic factors, such as adolescent’s gender, study class, mother’s education and occupation, and parental concerns regarding television advertisements were found to be associated with increased junk food consumption frequency. Policymakers and nutrition experts may use these data to modify food labelling and television commercial rules in order to develop family-oriented interventions to improve diet quality and health indicators.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-025-01101-6Eating habitsJunk foodTelevision advertisementsAdolescentsBangladesh
spellingShingle Shammy Akter
Md. Hasan Al Banna
Justice Kanor Tetteh
Trisha Mallick
Bably Sabina Azhar
Joytun Nahar
Masuma Chowdhury
Addah Graham Gilbert Wilfred
Sumaia Sahrin
Association of sociodemographic factors and television food advertisements with junk food consumption among a sample of adolescents aged 13 to 17 in Magura district, Bangladesh: a cross-sectional survey
BMC Nutrition
Eating habits
Junk food
Television advertisements
Adolescents
Bangladesh
title Association of sociodemographic factors and television food advertisements with junk food consumption among a sample of adolescents aged 13 to 17 in Magura district, Bangladesh: a cross-sectional survey
title_full Association of sociodemographic factors and television food advertisements with junk food consumption among a sample of adolescents aged 13 to 17 in Magura district, Bangladesh: a cross-sectional survey
title_fullStr Association of sociodemographic factors and television food advertisements with junk food consumption among a sample of adolescents aged 13 to 17 in Magura district, Bangladesh: a cross-sectional survey
title_full_unstemmed Association of sociodemographic factors and television food advertisements with junk food consumption among a sample of adolescents aged 13 to 17 in Magura district, Bangladesh: a cross-sectional survey
title_short Association of sociodemographic factors and television food advertisements with junk food consumption among a sample of adolescents aged 13 to 17 in Magura district, Bangladesh: a cross-sectional survey
title_sort association of sociodemographic factors and television food advertisements with junk food consumption among a sample of adolescents aged 13 to 17 in magura district bangladesh a cross sectional survey
topic Eating habits
Junk food
Television advertisements
Adolescents
Bangladesh
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-025-01101-6
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