Impact of Online Food Delivery Apps on Students’ Lifestyle

Online Food Delivery (OFD) applications have rapidly transformed how students select and consume meals. Platforms such as Swiggy, Zomato, and Uber Eats offer convenience, variety, and fast delivery, making food accessible with minimal effort. This study integrates existing literature with data collected from 200 students to understand how OFD apps influence eating habits, financial behavior, health, and social interactions. Using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), the study identifies key motivators such as convenience, discounts, and ease of use. Results show that 68% of students order food at least once a week, and 45% report increased fast-food consumption due to app usage. While OFD apps offer time-saving benefits, they also contribute to impulsive ordering, increased expenses, and reduced preference for home-cooked meals. The study highlights the need for nutritional awareness and controlled digital behavior among students to promote healthier lifestyles. The COVID-19 pandemic further accelerated OFD adoption as lockdowns restricted access to restaurants and increased reliance on digital consumption. However, constant exposure to app notifications, offers, and instant availability of fast food has led to increased impulsive ordering, unhealthy eating habits, and overspending. OFD apps have also influenced social behaviour, reducing group dining and encouraging solitary eating. Since lifestyle habits adopted during student life shape long-term behaviour, it is crucial to study their impact. This paper investigates how OFD apps affect students’ eating habits, health, finances, and social interactions using literature analysis and primary survey data.