1. Fast Food Consumption Among Adolescent Girls in ErnakulamBy
Dr. Leena Leon
Asst. Professor, Department of Home Science,
St. Teresa’s College, Ernakulam

2. Fast Food — A Definition
Fast food is any food that:
Is quick and convenient
Lowest in nutritional quality
High in saturated fat
High in sodium and sugar content
Low in fiber
Low in vitamins and minerals
Not made at home
Contains of artificial colors and flavoring agents
Processed or semi-processed

3. Objectives Study the fast food habits and preference of adolescents
To compare present nutrient intake with RDA of ICMR to assess the nutritional status of adolescent girls
Find out factors that leads adolescents to fast foods
Determine the extent of fast food consumption
Determine the awareness level of the health hazards of fast food consumption

4. Why the study? Increasing consumption of fast food among adolescents
Increasing health problems among adolescents
Lack of interests in games, extra curricular activities, …
Problems like obesity, cardiovascular risk, low immunity levels, …
Increased threat to adolescent girls…
Are adolescents aware of the health hazards of fast foods?

5. How the study was conducted?
Preliminary Study:
Population – Adolescent girls (13-18)
Area – Ernakulam District, Kerala
No. of students – 5672 (8 Schools)
Fast food consumers (at least once a week) – (77.22%)
Target Population (at least 3 times a week) – 3302 (58.22%)
Low income (less than Rs p.a.) – 860 students (26.04%)
Middle income (above Rs & below ) – students (57%)
High income (above Rs ) – 560 students (16.95%)

6. Research Methodology Method – Survey Target population – 3302
Sampling method – Proportionate Stratified Sampling
Strata – LI, MI, HI
Each strata is further divided into 3 groups based on age – 13 and 14, 15 and and 18
Simple random samples selected from each stratum

7. Study Design
Semi structured questionnaire was used to collect data regarding general and fast food habits, preferences, awareness, frequency consumption and factors influence fast food consumption
Dietary recall of 3 consecutive days to estimate nutrient consumption
Data collected through personal interview of the participants.

8. Sample and Sample size
Target population –Adolescent girls between the age of 13–18
Selection criterion – Adolescents who consumed fast food three or more times in a week
Population identified by – Pilot study
Participants – From eight different educational institutions in Ernakulam
Sample size – 554

9. Participants’ Profile

10. General Dietary Habits

11. Comparison of Mean Nutrient Intake with RDA

12. Comparison of Mean Nutrient Intake with RDA

13. Nutritional Status using NHANES BMI Age/Sex Percentiles

14. Mode of Introduction

15. Fast Food Sources

16. Reasons for Fast Food Consumption

17. Sources of Information

18. Conclusion
The study highlighted the dangers of the fast food trap that the adolescents are in.
Majority of the participants consumed fast foods without knowing the health impacts and long term health implications.
The parents as well as the children were equally unaware of the potentials health problems that could arise from regular consumption of fast food.
The importance of a balanced diet and regular and good eating habits were often ignored due to a host of reasons from ignorance to lack of time. So the necessity of awareness programs targeted at parents and children became evident.
The media should play its role by stopping the glorification of fast foods through celebrity advertisements and instead try to educate the audience about good food habits, good foods and why it is important to stay away from fast foods.

19. Thank you very much… LEENA LEON