Correlates of Fast Food Consumption to Obesity: The Case of Bulacan State University Students

Abstract

The wide spread of fast-food and unhealthy food can contribute to the rising of overweight adolescence Filipinos. The World Health Organization (WHO) is now working with the country’s National Nutrition Council (NNC) for the development of an action plan against obesity. This study examined the correlation of fast food consumption to obesity: the case of Bulacan State University. Specifically, this study investigated the fast food eating habits, types of meals usually eaten, factors that lead to obesity, and the relationship of fast food consumption to obesity. This study hypothesized that the fast food eating habits have significant relationship to obesity. The researcher selected 352 purposively selected (based on body size perception) overweight respondents and a survey questionnaire was personally administered to them. The respondents’ characteristics were described with the use of Body Mass Index (BMI), frequency and percentage distribution, mean, standard deviation. Correlation was used to analyze the data. Most of the respondents are 18 years old, female, with one hundred pesos above for their food allowance. The body mass index showed that some of the overweight respondents are not obese. The findings of this study indicated that there is no correlation between eating habits and factors leading to obesity. However, there is a correlation on daily exercise, genetic susceptibility, and emotional state. There is no significant relationship between fast food consumption and obesity.