Seung-Hee Hong

Food and Nutrition Major, Division of Food Science and Culinary Arts, Shinhan University, Uijeongbu, Korea


Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of fast food awareness, dietary behaviors, and health practices according to the fast food intake frequency in Korean adults.
Methods: The investigation was conducted using a self- completed questionnaire for adults. Chi-square test, correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis were performed to evaluate the association between intake frequency of fast food and related factors.
Results: The frequent intake group’s (more than twice a week) results were 38.6%, the normal intake group (less than twice a week) was 33.3%, and the non-intake group (less than once a month) was 28.1%. Subjects who frequently consumed fast food were positively aware of their fast food consumption. The frequent intake group showed significantly higher body weight gain after fast food intake than other groups. They consumed more foods containing oil and wheat flour than the non- intake group whose intake was mainly protein-sourced foods, green vegetables, and fruits, and dietary behavior showed statistically significant differences according to intake frequency of fast food. The fast food non-intake group was significantly better at practicing health practices such as maintaining health and normal weight, regular exercise, and correct posture than other groups. It was seen that the higher frequency of fast food intake group appeared to follow fewer health practices than other groups.
Conclusions: High frequency of fast food intake is associated with undesirable dietary behaviors such as high caloric intake and low health practices, suggesting the need for appropriate information to reduce the nutritional imbalance caused by fast food intake.
Korean J Health Promot 2020;20(2):58-69