Fast Food Consumption and Its Related Factors among Students: A Cross-Sectional Study

Today، lifestyle changes have lead to increasing fast food consumption. Preparing healthy food and addressing nutritional deficiencies during school age help children and adolescents to spend academic time successfully. In addition، it promotes their educational performance by affecting on intellectual activities. Thus، regarding importance of nutrition in adolescence، the present study was done for assessing fast food consumption and its related factors among students of guidance schools in Tehran، Iran. This cross-sectional study was carried out using self-administered questionnaire among 768 (384 boys and 384 girls) students of grades 1، 2 and 3 in regions 2، 9 and 18 of Tehran that was selected bymulti-stagerandomsampling method. Finally، participants were selected from 10 schools. Participation of students in this study was voluntary and with informed consent. Resultsshowed that 98. 7% of all students consume fast food، that 36. 8% and 14. 7% of them eat fast food 2-3 times a week and every day، respectively. There was a significant difference between boys and girls in terms of fast food consumption. This study revealed a high intake of fast foods in school children ofTehran. Therefore، educational interventions to reduce the consumption of fast foods in the adolescent population are absolutely necessary and recommended.