Fast food consumption among young adolescents aged 12-15 years in 54 low- and middle-income countries

Glob Health Action. 2020 Dec 31;13(1):1795438. doi: 10.1080/16549716.2020.1795438.

Abstract

Background: Most countries worldwide, especially low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), are facing an increasing prevalence of fast-food consumption and multiple burdens of malnutrition among young adolescents.

Objective: To compare the prevalence of fast-food consumption among young adolescents in LMICs.

Methods: We used data from the most recent Global School-Based Student Health Survey (2009-2015), which had been collected using a standardized questionnaire. The weighted prevalence and 95% confidential intervals of fast-food consumption were calculated overall and in subgroups stratified by age, sex, and nutritional status. The pooled overall and regional estimates were obtained using a random-effects model. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. The associated risk factors for fast-food consumption were explored using logistic regression analysis.

Results: Our study comprised 153,496 young adolescents (46.90% boys) from 54 LMICs. Overall, approximately 55.2% (51.3-59.1%) of the adolescents consumed fast food at least 1 day per week, and 10.3% (8.3-12.4%) did so 4-7 days per week. The prevalence of fast-food consumption 4-7 days per week was lowest in the Americas (8.3%; 6.7-9.9%) and highest in Southeast Asia (17.7%; 2.3-33.2%). At a country level, the prevalence was lowest in Pakistan (1.5%; 1.0-2.0%) and highest in Thailand (43.3%; 40.4-46.1%). Furthermore, in subgroups stratified by nutritional status, the prevalence was lowest in the obesity group (6.6%; 4.5-8.7%). Factors such as age, sex, BMI, food insecurity, fruit consumption, vegetable consumption, soft-drink consumption, smoking, physical activity level, and sedentary behavior level were found to be correlated with fast-food consumption.

Conclusions: The identified high prevalence of fast-food consumption among young adolescents in LMICs indicates the urgent need to prioritize the implementation of healthy-diet promotion programs to improve adolescent health in these countries.

Keywords: Fast food; GSHS; adolescents; low- and middle-income countries.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Developing Countries
  • Diet / standards*
  • Fast Foods / adverse effects
  • Fast Foods / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Nutritional Status
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors

Grants and funding

This study was supported by grants from the National Key R&D Program of China (grant number 2017YFC1310902, 2018YFC1315305), National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant number U1503223), Ningbo Health Branding Subject Fund (grant number PPXK2018-02), Sanming Project of Medicine in Shenzhen (grant number SZSM201803080), Scientific Research Foundation of Graduate School of Ningbo University (grant numbers G19133), and the K.C. Wong Magna Fund of Ningbo University.