Exploring the Underlying Factors for Fast Food Consumption Behavior among Adolescents: A Qualitative Study

Ata  Pourabbasia; Fatemeh-sadat  Fatemi; Mahdiyeh  Tehrani Moghadam; Haniyeh  Yavari; Bahare   Seyedhosseini; Amir Hossein   Shams

doi:10.18502/jnsd.v5i1.5231

Ata Pourabbasia
Fatemeh-sadat Fatemi
Mahdiyeh Tehrani Moghadam
Haniyeh Yavari
Bahare Seyedhosseini
Amir Hossein Shams

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jnsd.v5i1.5231

Keywords: Nutrition; Behavior; Fast food; Adolescents

Abstract

Background: Overweight and obesity cause different disorders such as high blood pressure, inflammation, and cardiovascular diseases. So it becomes a major factor for enhancing different mortal diseases. Due to the high tendency to consume fast food among adolescents, this study aims to identify the causes of adolescent’s desire for and fast food consumption.

Methods: An interview was carried out with some adolescents to explore the reasons and their consumption rate.

Results: The main factors promoting fast food consumption in students can be divided into 4 categories. Also, the students’ motivation in fast food ingestion can be explained in personal, social, and educational reasons.

Conclusion: Increasing number of fast food restaurants, peer pressure, parents’ role in choosing proper nutrition, and lack of knowledge about the risks of fast food are the main reasons for increased fast food consumption in adolescents.