Fast Food Consumption Status and Its Determinants in Iranian Population During COVID-19 Outbreak

Fast-food consumption is associated with obesity and non-communicable diseases, leading to the severity of COVID-19 status. The aim of this study was to investigate fast-food consumption status and its determinants in Iranian population during the epidemic.

This cross-sectional study was carried out on 891 Iranian adults from most regions of the country (February to April 2021) using social media. Data were collected via demographic and socioeconomic information questionnaire, fast food consumption questionnaire, COVID-19 fear scale and self-reported preventive behaviors against COVID-19 questionnaire. Nine-item fast-food consumption questionnaire assessed frequency, type and expenditure of fast-food consumption. It also assessed reasons of the tendency and motivators to fast-food consumption. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Software v.22.

Most of the participants were married (61.9%) and employed (27%) with associate or bachelor degrees (49.5%). Fast-food consumption was reported in 59.7% of the participants. Consumption reduction of fast foods due to the epidemic was also reported as nearly 73.7%. Most repeatedly consumed fast foods were pizzas followed by sandwiches. Results showed that age, family size and income, employment status and self-reported preventive behaviors against COVID-19 were the predictors of fast-food consumption (p < 0.05). However, other variables, including sex, marital status, educational level and fear of COVID-19 had no significant association with fast-food consumption (p > 0.05).

Consumption of fast foods has decreased during the pandemic. Fast-food consumption was inversely associated to the score of self-reported preventive behaviors against Covid-19. Persistence in decrease of fast-food consumption can include long-term positive effects on the community health.