Association of sociodemographic factors and television food advertisements with junk food consumption among a sample of adolescents aged 13 to 17 in Magura district, Bangladesh: a cross-sectional survey.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to examine the association of sociodemographic factors and television advertisements with junk food consumption among adolescents aged 13 to 17 in Bangladesh.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 326 adolescent-parent pairs from secondary education establishments at Magura municipal areas of Bangladesh. A validated structured survey questionnaire was utilized. Socio-demographic details, junk consumption frequency and types of information sought from food packages were asked from the adolescents. The outcome of this study was assessed using a single question (≤ 1 time, 2-3 times or > 3 times): How many times a week do you usually eat junk foods? Parents' concerns about the television advertisements for children' food products also assessed. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was applied.

RESULTS

Almost half of the participated adolescents (48.16%) reported they consumed junk food > 3 times a week. Our study found that adolescent boys [Odds ratio, OR =3.45; 95% confidence interval, CI = 1.60, 7.43] and those who studied in class eight [OR =5.78; 95% CI = 1.33, 25.17] had a higher probability of consuming junk food > 3 times a week compared to their respective counterparts. Participants whose mothers had tertiary education were less likely to consume junk food > 3 times [OR =0.28; 95%CI = 0.02, 0.23] a week than their counterparts. Additionally, adolescents' junk food consumption frequency was significantly associated with their parental concern regarding the timing of television advertisements and the advertisements of unhealthy food products when children watch television.

CONCLUSION

Several sociodemographic factors, such as adolescent's gender, study class, mother's education and occupation, and parental concerns regarding television advertisements were found to be associated with increased junk food consumption frequency. Policymakers and nutrition experts may use these data to modify food labelling and television commercial rules in order to develop family-oriented interventions to improve diet quality and health indicators.