Fast Food Consumption and its Relation to Mental Health among Female Secondary School Students in Eastern Saudi Arabia

Ghadeer Alsaffar, Sharifah AlGhamdi, Haifa Almahasnah, Maha ElTwansy

Abstract: This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between fast food consumption and mental health among female adolescents in Saudi Arabia. Data was collected from 417 female students from three main cities in the Eastern Province. Self-reported questionnaires were used to assess fast food consumption and mental health. A total of 76.5 % of respondents ate fast food, and 69.5 % did so once or twice per week. The percentage of abnormal internalizing and externalizing scores was 7.4 and 5.5, respectively. Fast food consumption frequency was significantly associated with internalizing and externalizing disorders. A significant association was also found between duration of consumption and externalizing disorders.

Keywords: Adolescents, mental health, fast food