Factors Affecting Fast Food Consumption among College Students in South Asia: A Systematic Review

Unhealthy dietary practices have increased among college students in South Asia. Higher intakes of energy-dense foods may increase health risks such as weight gain in college students. The purpose of the study was to gather evidence on fast food consumption patterns and factors that influenced fast food consumption among college students in South Asia. Electronic databases (CINAHL, PsycINFO, PubMed, and ScienceDirect) were used to find relevant potential English-written articles. We followed the standard process of identification, screening, eligibility assessment, study quality assessment, and data extraction from the included articles in this review. In total, data were synthesized from 28 articles. Factors such as gender, being younger, higher socio-economic class, higher body mass index (being overweight or obese), study groups such as students from Humanities, low nutrition knowledge, and the internet addiction played the roles as positive determinants (all P values < 0.05) of consuming fast food frequently. Furthermore, taste, brand reputation, accessibility, location, price, ambiance, hygiene practice, variety, promotional offers, and timely service significantly (all P values < 0.05) increased intakes of fast food in college students. Engaged institutional nutrition education intervention and multisectoral approaches are necessary to reduce fast food consumption in college students along with enabling them to make healthy food choices.Key teaching pointsFrequency of fast food consumption (daily to several times a week) has increased among college students in recent years in South Asia. This systematic review shows that a number of socio-economic, physiological, and behavioral factors influence fast food consumption in college students. Commonly, male students and persons with higher body mass index consume fast food more often. Taste, price, and convenience, accessibility, availability, ambiance, and location also promote fast food consumption in college students. Nutrition interventions are needed to promote healthy dietary intake behavior among college students in South Asia.