Dietary energy density and fast food consumption of 16-21 year-old adolescents

Abstract

Objective. This study was conducted to determine the dietary energy density of diets consumed by adolescents and characterize their fast food consumption. Methods. Secondary data analyses were made on a selected group of adolescents aged 16-21 years (n=99) who were enrolled in a university located in Manila. A two-day non- consecutive 24-hour food recall was conducted to collect dietary data. Dietary Energy Density (DED) was calculated by dividing the available energy (from carbohydrate, protein and fat) by unit weight of foods and beverages consumed. To determine the DED of the total food and beverage intake, the following were obtained: (a) the mean energy (kilocalorie) value of total food and beverage consumed, the total amount of food consumed, and the total beverage consumed; (b) the mean total weight of food and beverage consumed, the total amount of food consumed, and the total beverage consumed; and (C) the mean DED of total amount of food and beverage consumed, total food consumed, and the total beverage consumed. Fast food consumers included respondents who reportedly ate fast food at least once during the two survey days while non-fast food consumers did not eat in any fast food establishment within the surveyed period. Data were analyzed using Epilnfo version 3.5.3 Data were reported as mean ± SD. Student's t-test was used to compare the means while the chi-square test was employed to determine the existence ofa relationship between variables. Results. Adolescents consumed fast foods on a typical school day. Fast food consumers had significantly higher mean intake of energy, carbohydrate, protein and fat than non-fast food consumers. The DED5 of beverage as well as food and beverage intake of fast food consumers were significantly higher than those of non-fast food consumers. Compared to non-fast food consumers, those who ate fast foods took significantly more energy-dense beverages (1.24 kcal/g versus 0.98 kcal/g; p = .0096) and meals (2.51 kcal/g versus 1.95 kcal/g; p = .0772); however, the DED of foods consumed did not differ significantly. There were significantly more fast food consumers who ate "medium" and "high" energy-dense foods than non-fast food consumers (28.8% and 6.8% versus 10% and 2.5%; p=0.038). Fast food consumption of the adolescents was not significantly associated with their nutritional status measured in terms of body mass index (BMI). Conclusion. Adolescents consumed fast foods on a typical school day. Fast food consumers had significantly higher mean intake of carbohydrate, protein, fat, and calories compared to non-fast food consumers. Those who ate fast foods took significantly more energy-dense meals (food and beverage) and beverages than non-fast food consumers. Findings likewise showed that there are significantly more fast food consumers who ate "medium" and "high" energy-dense foods compared to non-fast food consumers. Thus, fast food establishments should offer a variety of food choices that includes low energy-dense food items. In this study, no association was found between fast food consumption and BMI.