Study of Obesity Prevalence and Fast Food Consumption Among Adolescents in Urban Areas

Abstract

Obesity among adolescents is an emerging public health problem in urban settings because dietary transition, easy availability of energy-dense fast foods, sugar sweetened beverages, screen-based recreation, reduced physical activity and irregular sleep are increasingly shaping lifestyle patterns. The World Health Organization has reported that overweight and obesity among children and adolescents aged 5-19 years have risen substantially, and adolescent obesity has quadrupled since 1990.1 Urban Indian adolescents are exposed to a double burden where undernutrition may coexist with increasing overweight and obesity. The present study was undertaken to assess the prevalence of obesity and its association with fast food consumption among adolescents residing in urban areas. A school-based analytical cross-sectional design was used. The study population included 300 adolescents aged 13-18 years from selected urban schools. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, dietary frequency schedule, anthropometric assessment sheet and lifestyle assessment tool. Height and weight were measured using standard procedures, and BMI-for-age classification was interpreted with age- and sex-appropriate adolescent criteria. In the academic sample, 57 adolescents (19.0%) were overweight and 34 (11.3%) were obese, giving an overall excess weight prevalence of 30.3%. Frequent fast-food consumption (>=3 times/week), daily sugar-sweetened beverage intake, screen time of more than four hours/day, low physical activity, frequent breakfast skipping, short sleep duration and positive family history were significantly associated with overweight/obesity.