Impact of Fast Food Consumption on Obesity and Overweight among Individuals Aged Ten Years and Above: A Systematic  Review and Meta-Analysis

Seif Said   Khalfan; Jeremie   Minani; Sultan Khamis  Muki; Fatma Ahmed  Said; Dennis M.  Lyakurwa; Bo  Zhang

doi:10.18502/ijph.v54i9.19850

Seif Said Khalfan Food Safety and Health Research Centre, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
Jeremie Minani Faculty of Health and Allied Sciences, Zanzibar University, Tunguu, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Sultan Khamis Muki Faculty of Health and Allied Sciences, Zanzibar University, Tunguu, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Fatma Ahmed Said Ministry of Health, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Dennis M. Lyakurwa Department of Curative Services, Ministry of Health P.O.Box 743, Dodoma, Tanzania
Bo Zhang Food Safety and Health Research Centre, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijph.v54i9.19850

Keywords: Fast food consumption; Obesity; Overweight; Junk food; Meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of obesity and overweight globally has increased to epidemic proportions, representing a substantial burden on health systems. The consumption of high-energy-density but low-nutritional-value food, known as fast food, has been linked to the obesity epidemic. This review aimed to quantify the association between fast food consumption and overweight/obesity in individuals aged ten years and above.

Methods: We followed the PRISMA-P 2020 guidelines. To identify studies, English databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, and DOAJ, were searched. The search strategy focused on terms and inclusion criteria. After quality assessment, data were analyzed using SPSS software.

Results: Thirteen studies out of 665 screened indicate a significant positive association between fast food consumption and obesity or overweight (OR 2.979 [1.748-5.078]). Heterogeneity analysis revealed substantial variability across studies (Q = 119.497, P < 0.0001; I² = 92.47%), suggesting true differences beyond chance with the random-effects model showed a stronger association compared to the fixed-effects model (OR 2.979 vs. OR 1.929). Sensitivity analysis demonstrated variations based on sample size. Publication bias of the included studies was done using Egger’s and Begg’s tests.

Conclusion: The analysis revealed the effect of fast food consumption on weight status varied among demographic subpopulations. The review also provides further justification for interventions to encourage healthier dietary choices and reductions in consumption of fast food, both of which, in turn, are aimed at tackling the obesity epidemic.