Magnitude Of Fast Food Consumption And Associated Factors Among High School Adolescents In Ambo Town, West Shewa, Oromia Region, Ethiopia, 2025

Abstract

Background: Fast food consumption is an emerging public health concern that is increasingly prevalent across all age groups, particularly among adolescents. Characterized by high levels of salt, sugars, saturated fats and trans fats. Fast food offers poor nutritional value and contributes to the development of chronic diseases. In Ethiopia, particularly in Ambo town, there is limited evidence regarding the extent of fast food consumption and its contributing factors. Objectives:This study aimed to assess the magnitude of fast food consumption and its associated factors among high school adolescents in Ambo Town, West Shewa, Ethiopia, in 2025. Methods: An institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted from January 20/2025 to February 20/2025, involving 749 adolescents selected through systematic random sampling. Descriptive statistics including frequency, proportion, and standard deviation were used to summarize the data, and both bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with fast food consumption after Multicollinearity and model fitness were checked. Variables with a p-value less than 0.25 in the bivariable analysis were entered into the multivariable model. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (COR and AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated, and statistical significance was determined at p-value <0.05. Results:The study achieved a high response rate of 99.1%, with findings indicating that 48.5% (95% CI: 44.9%–52.2%) of participants consumed fast food. Significant factors associated with fast food consumption included availability of fast food at home (AOR = 3.16; 95% CI: 1.41– 7.07), Adolescent living with (AOR=1.65; 95% CI:1.01-2.70), Family structure (AOR=0.537; 95% CI=0.365, 0.790), fast food consumption by family members (AOR = 4.01; 95% CI: 1.77– 9.08), and the presence of fast food retailers or hotels within a 10-minute walk from home or school (AOR = 2.64; 95% CI: 1.34–5.21). In conclusion, nearly half of the high school adolescents in Ambo town are fast-food consumers, with family members eat fast food, family structure, availability of fast food at home, adolescent living with, and easy access to fast food outlets being significant contributing factors. Interventions should focus on reducing fast food availability at home, promoting healthier eating habits, and encouraging the consumption of home-cooked meals to improve adolescent health outcome