Association of junk food consumption with overweight-obesity among preclinical medical students of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences

Background: The consumption of high energy and low nutritional content foods, which are known as junk foods, is considered as one of the main causes of obesity particularly in adolescents. The aim of this study was to determine the association of junk food consumption with overweight-obesity among preclinical medical students of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (SBMU). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, preclinical students of SBMU were recruited by simple randomized sampling. Study participants included 18-23 years old male and female. Demographic and socio-economic data were collected by a questionnaire. Information relating to the consumption of junk foods was provided by a 24-items self-administered semiquantitative food frequency questioner (F.F.Q). The relationship between the consumption of fast food and overweight-obesity (O.O) was analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 21.0. through binary logistic regression method. Results: A total of 186 students participated in this study. Overweight-obese students (BMI≥25) accounted for 63 (34%) of the total participants. A total of 58 (31.1%) students consumed fast foods more than 1.52 serving/week. Students who were at the highest tertile of fast food consumption, had a higher chance of O.O (OR=2.42, 95% CI=1.17-4.99, P=0.01) in comparison with those in the lowest tertile (OR=2.21, 95% CI=1.01-4.84, P=0.04). After adjustment for age and socioeconomic factors, this chance was increased (OR=3.824, 95% CI=1.66-8.811, P=0.002); but, after adjusting lifestyle variables (physical activity) this relationship was not significant anymore (OR=2.247, 95% CI=0.998-5.058, P=0.05). Conclusion: The findings of this study represent a positive association between fast-food consumption and O.O in medical students.