Correlation between fast food consumption and levels of anxiety in students of medical science universities in Tehran

Diet is one of the important causes that directly or indirectly affect the course of non-infectious diseases. Medical students are more susceptible to be exposed to stressors, feel more anxiety and have bad nutritional habits. The present study was conducted to investigate the relationship between rate of consumption of fast-food cuisine and levels of anxiety among medical students in Tehran in 2010. In this cross-sectional study, 204 male and 284 female were selected from students of medical sciences universities in Tehran, using stratified random sampling. Dietary assessment was done using 24-hour recall for frequency of fast food consumption in two times with a week interval. Conversion of intake foods into micronutrients was undertaken using the USDA tables. Persian version Spiel-Berger questionnaire, evaluating trait and state anxiety levels was used. A proportional odd’s regression model with adjusting the effect of probable confounder variables was used to assess the effect of consumption of fast-food cuisine on anxiety variables. Rate of fast food consumption was twice in male students compared to female students. Chance of feeling either moderate or severe anxiety in those students who frequently consume fast-food cuisine was seven folds higher than those students who rarely use fast food (OR=7.0, 95% CI, 2.35-9.74, P<0.001). It was determined that rate of anxiety level might increase by increase in consumption of fast- food cuisine.