Consumption of Fast Food and Its Association with Obesity among Secondary School Children in Sokoto Metropolis, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The percentage of caloric intake from fast food has increased fivefold over the past three decades among adolescents. Approximately 30% to more than 50% of children and college students consume fast food daily, including pizza, burgers, fried chicken, chips, and French fries. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and pattern of fast-food consumption among secondary school children in Sokoto metropolis. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional descriptive design was used for this study and after proportional to size allocation, a total of 328 students who had spent not less than a year in the schools were recruited into the study using a systematic sampling method. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire downloaded into ODK. Inferential statistics was done, and the level of statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results: All the respondents in the study consumed at least one fast food in the last six months prior to the study and the fast foods consumed included noodles, cakes, ice cream, and cold drinks. The prevalence of obesity and overweight was 0.9 and 5.2% respectively, however there was no association between fast food consumption and overweight/obesity. Although 66.2% of the students had good knowledge of the health hazards associated with consuming fast foods, 82.6% considered them healthy. Social class was found to be significantly (p= 0.001) associated with chocolate consumption as the proportion of respondents who consumed chocolate was higher 53 (86.9%) in the upper class compared to the low and middle classes There is an urgent need to create awareness amongst parents of school children about the health hazards associated with the consumption of fast foods if we are to nip in the bud the looming epidemic of obesity and overweight and their attendant health risks.