Junk Food Consumption Rate Among Children and Adolescents From the Rural and Urban Areas of a Tertiary Hospital in Puducherry, India

Junk food consumption is associated with various health hazards, such as childhood obesity, hypertension, and juvenile diabetes. This study aims to investigate junk food consumption rate among children and adolescents from the rural and urban areas of a tertiary hospital in Puducherry, India.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among children and adolescents in the urban and rural field practicing area of Aarupadai Veedu Medical College. The cluster sampling technique followed by age and gender stratification was used in each cluster interviewed using a quasi-structured questionnaire in a field practice area with about 360 samples. The statistical analysis used was nonparametric (chi-square test) and multiple logistic regressions.

The prevalence of junk food consumption in 144 children (5-12 years old) was 40% and in 90 adolescents (13-18 years old), it was 25%. The most common junk food eaten by the participants in 173 children was chocolate (38.88%) and in 73 adolescents, it was chips (38.02%). Junk food consumption was significantly more common per day and less than 3 days per week compared to the weekly thrice and 4 times frequency of junk consumption per week. The age category of 5-8 years had 2.73 higher junk food consumption compared to the age category of 13-18 years of age and it was statistically significant (P=0.001). The unemployed mother consumed 2.35 junk food compared to the employed mother, and was statistically significant (P=0.002). Urban had 2.41 higher junk food consumption compared to rural, which is statistically significant (P=0.001). 

The most common junk food, fast food, instant food, and street food eaten by children and adolescents were chocolate and chips, samosa, noodles, and golgappaa/pani puri, respectively. Junk food consumption was higher in children and urban compared to adolescents and rural, respectively. The literate father and unemployed mother were associated with increased. In a formal system, all schools should encourage balanced diets and draw attention to the adverse effects of junk food.