The Evaluation Habits and Causes to Consume Fast foods in Adolescents 13-17 years of Tabriz City, 2016

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Overweight and obeisity has been spread in adolescents around the world and one of its causes can be Fast-foods Consumption. This study was carried out with the aim of investigating the habits and causes of having tendency to consume fast foods in adolescents of Tabriz. Materials and methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 1086 students with the age range of 13-17 years, were selected by using of cluster sampling method. Data were collected through questionnaires of demographic characteristics, causes of tendency and Food Frequency Questionnaire. The face and content validity of the questionnaires was approved by the professors of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Data analysis was carried out using statistics in SPSS V.13 software. Results: Results showed that fast food consumption habits in adolescents mostly was low consumption (68.6%). Male students had higher fast food consumption than females. The most causes of having tendency to consume fast foods were good taste(40%), compulsion and inevitability(40%), spending leisure time with peers(34%), different appearance and hearty(30%), interest in fast food and snacks(22%), glamor fast food restaurants(18%), reasonable price(16%), preferring fast food to home-grown foods(16%), common of these foods in the community(14%) and a lot of pocket money(14%). Sausage, fried Potato, and types of doner Sandwiches were more popular (p=0.3). There was a significant differences between fast food consumption habits with gender, age, weight, BMI, parent's education level and job, students Pocket money, and prevent families from going to fast food restaurents, The number of fast food restaurents from home to school, Exercising, TV viewing (Direct relationship), and family income, knowledge score (Reverse relationship) (p<0.05). Conclusion: Considering the results of the study, the efforts of authorities should be aimed at providing healthy ready-made foods in healthy and attractive places where the adolescents can spend their leisure time with their peers. Increasing nutritional knowledge in people can useful that this goal will be achived with the cooperation and participation of the public and community officials, families, the media, and education.