Pattern of Junk Food consumption Among Hostelite and Day Scholar Medical Students of Peshawar

Abstract

Abstract

Background: Junk foods are considered to have low nutritional value, however, young people, especially students are particularly more attracted, because of its more readily available food options..

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the frequency of junk food consumption among undergraduate medical students in Peshawar and analyze the difference among Hostelite and day scholar medical students as well as to determine the factors responsible for it.

Material and Methods: In this cross-sectional analytical study data was collected from 207 MBBS students from five different medical colleges  in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Random sampling technique was used to collect the data from January to July 2023. A structured questionnaire was used to interview the students about various aspects of their junk food consumption and results obtained were statistically analyzed for level of significance.

Results: The results showed that weekly consumption (n=102, 49.3%) of junk food was the highest. Fast foods (50.5%) and snacks (27.1%) were the most consumed junk foods. The biggest reason for junk food consumption was ‘taste’ (n=178 62.7%).  Gender showed a significant association (p<0.05) with increasing frequency of junk food with females consuming more. Differences in residential status and institution classes were not statistically significant effect (p>0.05). Comparison of Hostelite and day scholars for various factors like ‘taste’, ‘convenience’, affordability, social and ‘peer pressure’, ‘craving’ and ‘availability’ did not yield a significant difference either (p>0.05).

Conclusions: We concluded that the most commonly consumed junk food among medical students is ‘fast food’, citing ‘taste’ as the biggest reason. Availability affordability and other factors do not contribute as much. Both, Hostelite and day scholar medical students consume junk food at an equal rate. Females were found to have higher consumption as compared to male students.