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Report: Fast food Consumption Among UBD Students Summary This report aims to investigate fast food consumption among UBD students, determine how common it is and investigate the students attitude towards fast food consumption. Questionnaires were designed and distributed to elicit relevant information such as the students age, gender, fast food eating habits and lifestyle. It was found that fast food consumption is common among UBD students. However, many do not observe proper fast food routines as majority of the students do not suffer from negative health problems related to fast foods.

1. Introduction Proper nutrition serves a crucial part in a persons life time. Not observing proper nutrition can lead to adverse effects in ones health and physical and intellectual performance. Considering this, our report emphasizes on the intake of fast food. A typical meal in a fast food restaurant contains a very high energy density (Prentice, 2008). Researchers have also shown that a diet high on energy-dense foods will increase a persons risk of weight gain, obesity and insulin-resistance (Rusinko, Harvey & Andrews, 2005). This report aims to investigate fast food consumption among the students of University Brunei Darussalam. The report also aims to determine whether fast food consumption is common among the UBD students and investigate the students attitude towards fast food consumption. Information for this report was primarily obtained using the technique of convenience sampling as described by Creswell (2003). Questionnaires were designed and distributed to elicit relevant information.

Group Assessment Report on Fast Food Consumption Among UBD Students Universiti Brunei Darussalam

2. Findings and Discussions 2.1 Thirty responses from the questionnaires given out were used: thirteen responses (48%) being from males and seventeen responses (52%) being from females. The respondents overall mean age was 21 + 2.2 years old. 2.2 The study showed that from a list of fast food restaurants present in the country, Kentucky Fried Chicken was the most preferred by the UBD students (36%), followed by McDonalds at 24%, then Jollibee (23%) and Ayamku (12%). The remaining 5% of the responses is shared by a few less popular fast food outlets in the country. 2.3 The results of the questionnaires also revealed that 57% of the respondents consume fast food frequently at least three times per week. The remaining percentage were divided into groups eating fast food less than three times a week (39%) and groups who do not consume fast food at all (4%). This shows that more than half of the UBD students consider themselves as frequent consumers of fast food. Out of the frequent fast food goers, 83% of them live away from their families, independently managing daily lives. A reason to suggest why their fast food consumption is high is that this group of students do not often have sufficient time to cook, or rather, do not prefer to cook. On the other hand, almost half of the respondents do not consider themselves as regular consumers of fast food. This may be due to socio-cultural reasons. Unlike in other countries where university students stay in dormitories, many of the students enrolled at University Brunei Darussalam still reside with their parents or guardians. These parents or guardians may practice a different eating habit i.e. cooking and eating at home, etc, which in turn influences their childrens eating habits.
Group Assessment Report on Fast Food Consumption Among UBD Students Universiti Brunei Darussalam

4% of the respondents who answered that they did not consume fast food at all were known to be vegetarians. 2.4 It was also observed that the students reference groups were important sources of influence regarding fast food consumption. 77% of the students who regularly ate fast food regarded their campus friends as most influential in affecting their nutrition pattern. This referent group is followed by boy/girlfriends (18%) and then, family (5%). This implies that the UBD students themselves play an important role in influencing fellow students to adopt the fast food culture. 2.5 Responses about fast food attitudes were also obtained. Majority of the respondents (76%) were aware of the harmful consequences of fast food on health, however only 4% of the respondents were planning to cut down on fast food consumption. This suggests that despite the known negative aspects of fast food consumption, many UBD students disregard proper nutritional exercises. 2.6 From the study, 92% of the respondents assured that they did not face any problems due to the consumption of fast food. 2.7 Also, 89% of respondents do sports at least twice a week. This response can provide reasoning as to why majority of the UBD students who consumes fast food do not experience any related problems.

3. Conclusion 3.1 Fast food consumption among UBD students is indeed common. 3.2 Fast food habits, in general, were influenced by different factors such as sociocultural background, reference groups and lifestyle.

Group Assessment Report on Fast Food Consumption Among UBD Students Universiti Brunei Darussalam

3.3 Despite many of the UBD students knowing fast foods negative effects, attitudes towards fast food remain the same. Majority of the students are not planning on watching out their fast food eating habits. 3.4 However, majority of the UBD students are active participators in sports. This provides support as to why many do not feel the need to control their fast food consumption. 4. Recommendations 4.1 The report suggests that University Brunei Darussalam promote awareness of the harmful effects of fast food towards ones health and competence. This can be done by organising campaigns to educate its students on how to observe proper nutrition. 4.2 Further investigation must also be conducted, using a larger amount of samples. 5. References 5.1 Prentice,A, 2008, Obesity Review, Volume 3, pp.22-30; 5.2 Rusinko, J, Harvey, D, Andrews, E, 2005, The Lancet, Volume 6, pp. 56-87; 5.3 Fast Food. Retrieved 3rd March 2009 from http://www.komci.org/CedRefFull.php?ArticleID=337032

Group Assessment Report on Fast Food Consumption Among UBD Students Universiti Brunei Darussalam