Junk Food Consumption Behavior among Young Children

Area of Science:

• Nutrition Science
• Pediatric Health
• Public Health

Background:

• Junk food consumption negatively impacts health and displaces nutritious foods vital for growth.
• Understanding junk food habits in children is crucial for addressing associated health risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of junk food consumption among young children.
• To identify factors associated with high junk food intake in this age group.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 352 school children aged 5-9 years in Pokhara Metropolitan.
• Data collected via face-to-face interviews with parents using a structured questionnaire.
• High consumption defined as three or more junk food servings per week; statistical analyses included descriptive and multivariate methods.

Main Results:

• 70.7% of children consumed junk food three or more times weekly; specific items included energy-dense foods (66.5%), noodles (20.7%), and sugary drinks (9.7%).
• Junk food intake correlated with proximity of shops, school food provision types, and after-school snacking habits.
• Higher consumption was associated with receiving money for food at school (AOR, 2.31) and taking snacks at home after school (AOR, 12.86).

Conclusions:

• Junk food consumption is alarmingly high among young children in the study region.
• Authorities should implement policies and programs to reduce the availability and consumption of junk food.
• Interventions targeting school food environments and after-school habits are recommended.