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Fast food consumption of college students
Author(s) -
Heidal Kimberly B.,
Duffrin Melani,
Malinauskas Brenda,
AlNumair Khalid,
Buechler Angela
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.23.1_supplement.720.14
Subject(s) - calorie , consumption (sociology) , obesity , food consumption , environmental health , caloric intake , anthropometry , food frequency questionnaire , medicine , food intake , food science , gerontology , demography , agricultural economics , biology , social science , sociology , economics , endocrinology
Increased fast food consumption has been associated with an increased risk of obesity. Fast food is defined by Webster's dictionary as foods designed for ready availability, use, or consumption and with little consideration given to quality or significance. The purpose of this research was to measure fast food consumption and caloric intake from specific fast food chains located near a college campus. A convenience sample (n=294) of 121 males and 173 females currently enrolled undergraduate college students, ages 18‐22, participated in a survey study that measured dietary intake from seven local fast food chains using a researcher developed food frequency questionnaire. A previously validated college life survey was used to assess lifestyle behaviors. Anthropometrics were taken by trained researchers. The average BMI was 25.75 ± 6.05. The mean frequency of fast food consumption was 12.78 ± 10.77 meals per month. The mean monthly caloric intake from fast food was 13285.67 ± 14584.47 and total dietary fat was 468.75 ± 618.07 g. The small southern town in which this study was conducted was ranked as the number one market for heavy consumption of fast food in a national survey conducted in 2006. The 2006 survey reported similar findings in that the majority of calories were consumed from hamburgers, French fries and soda‐pop.