Junk food consumption and associated factors among high school adolescents in Harar City, Harari Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia: institutional-based cross-sectional study.
- 1School of Public Health, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia.
- 2School of Public Health, College of Health and Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia. [email protected].
Abstract
Background
Excessive junk food consumption among adolescents has emerged as a global public health concern, with ultra-processed foods accounting for up to 60% of total daily caloric intake in urbanizing settings. However, there is limited and context-specific evidence regarding these dietary patterns in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of junk food consumption among high school adolescents in Harar City, Harari Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia.Methods
A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 25 to June 6, 2025, among 747 high school adolescents selected through a multistage sampling method. Data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with junk food consumption. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05, and the strength of association was reported using adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals.Results
The overall prevalence of junk food consumption among adolescents was 360 (48.2%) (95% CI: 44.6-51.8%). In the multivariable analysis, the strongest independent risk factor for consumption was female sex (AOR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.14-2.14), followed by regular receipt of pocket money (AOR = 1.43, 95% CI: 1.02-1.99) and joint family structures (AOR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.02-1.99). Conversely, strong protective factors against consumption included home unavailability of junk food (AOR = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.19-0.38), having neither parent alive (AOR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.13-0.85), having only the father alive (AOR = 0.34, 95%CI: 0.14-0.81) and enrollment in private schools (AOR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.42-0.92).Conclusion
Nearly half of the surveyed adolescents routinely consume junk food, with this pattern driven primarily by gender (female), financial autonomy, and food accessibility. Interventions should focus on modifying immediate adolescent environments by regulating food availability inside school compounds and promoting supportive domestic dietary habits.
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BibTeX
@article{awol2026junk,
title = {{Junk food consumption and associated factors among high school adolescents in Harar City, Harari Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia: institutional-based cross-sectional study.}},
author = {Muzeyen Awol and Assefa Tola and Berhe Gebremichael and Alemayehu Tesfaye and Birhanu Shegene and Dawit Firdisa and Obsan Kassa},
journal = {BMC nutrition},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s40795-026-01436-8},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42907911},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Junk food consumption and associated factors among high school adolescents in Harar City, Harari Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia: institutional-based cross-sectional study.
AU - Muzeyen Awol
AU - Assefa Tola
AU - Berhe Gebremichael
AU - Alemayehu Tesfaye
AU - Birhanu Shegene
AU - Dawit Firdisa
AU - Obsan Kassa
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - BMC nutrition
DO - 10.1186/s40795-026-01436-8
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42907911
AB - Background Excessive junk food consumption among adolescents has emerged as a global public health concern, with ultra-processed foods accounting for up to 60% of total daily caloric intake in urbanizing settings. However, there is limited and context-specific evidence regarding these dietary patterns in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of junk food consumption among high school adolescents in Harar City, Harari Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia.Methods A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 25 to June 6, 2025, among 747 high school adolescents selected through a multistage sampling method. Data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with junk food consumption. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05, and the strength of association was reported using adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals.Results The overall prevalence of junk food consumption among adolescents was 360 (48.2%) (95% CI: 44.6-51.8%). In the multivariable analysis, the strongest independent risk factor for consumption was female sex (AOR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.14-2.14), followed by regular receipt of pocket money (AOR = 1.43, 95% CI: 1.02-1.99) and joint family structures (AOR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.02-1.99). Conversely, strong protective factors against consumption included home unavailability of junk food (AOR = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.19-0.38), having neither parent alive (AOR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.13-0.85), having only the father alive (AOR = 0.34, 95%CI: 0.14-0.81) and enrollment in private schools (AOR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.42-0.92).Conclusion Nearly half of the surveyed adolescents routinely consume junk food, with this pattern driven primarily by gender (female), financial autonomy, and food accessibility. Interventions should focus on modifying immediate adolescent environments by regulating food availability inside school compounds and promoting supportive domestic dietary habits.
SN - 2055-0928
ER -