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Junk Food Consumption, awareness and its Health Consequences among Undergraduates of a Medical University

Objective: To assess the consumption patterns and health consequences of junk foods among students 
of medical university Karachi, Pakistan. 
Methods: A study was conducted among 370 students in a Public Sector University, Karachi from March 
to November 2017. Medical undergraduates, (1-5 academic year),of both gender were conveniently 
selected. The average age of the medical students was 18 to 24 years, majority were females. Information 
regarding junk food eating pattern, preference, timings of consumption, influence of nutritional 
information on the choice of junk food, any history of physical and psychiatric ailments in past six months 
were collected. A pretested, both open and close ended self-administered questionnaire consisting of 26 
questions were used to collect data to assess the knowledge and health consequences regarding junk food 
consumption. 
Results: Out of total 370 participants, 91.4% had the knowledge about the risk and strong connection 
between weight gain and obesity. Despite of this, 92% participants were consuming junk food. One out of 
every three students (34.9%) reported hygiene problems, (95%) gastrointestinal issues and (20%) 
complained about dental problems. A significant association of junk food consumption with feeling 
drowsiness/lethargic (p-value <0.001) was observed. Moreover, knowledge regarding high risk of noncommunicable 
diseases among junk foods users also found significantly higher (p-value 0.045). 
Conclusion: Current study revealed that, though awareness regarding health hazards of the junk food was 
found higher among medical students, its consumption is highly prevalent.