Fast Food Consumption and BMI in Urban 'Adolescent Girls' of Muzaffarpur District, Bihar

Abstract: Consumption of fast food is emerging as a potential threat to the physical and mental health of adolescent girls. To assess the nutritional status, BMI, and prevalence of fast-food consumption habits of urban adolescent girls of Muzaffarpur district, Bihar, and their awareness of the adverse health effects associated with fast food. Additionally, fast food culture is a rapidly rising trend among youngsters. The stressful life caused by an increased study load negatively influences the food choices of students. This cross-sectional survey was conducted among 257 unmarried adolescent girls (16-19 years) attending government colleges in the urban population of Muzaffarpur Municipal Area, Bihar. The study used a two-day 24-hour dietary recall approach and a food frequency questionnaire to assess fast food consumption and nutritional intake. Anthropometric measurements were taken to calculate BMI and compare results to benchmarks. It is a measurement of relative physical fitness that can be calculated using height (in meters, barefoot) and weight (in kilograms). BMI = Weight (kg) / Height(m2). Data analysis involved using percentages and averages to identify key findings. The socioeconomic distribution reveals a majority in middle and high-income brackets, suggesting socioeconomic factors likely influence BMI distribution. There is an awareness gap regarding the effects of fast-food consumption which indicates a need for educational campaigns. Keywords: Health, Nutrition, BMI, Overweight, Adolescent. Title: Fast Food Consumption and BMI in Urban ‘Adolescent Girls’ of Muzaffarpur District, Bihar Author: Dr. Jayashree, Dt. Priyanka Raj, Dr. Kusum Kumari, Dr. Sangeeta Rani, Dr. Vidisha Mishra, Dr. Shweta Priyadarshini, Dr. Renu Kumari International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Innovations ISSN 2348-1218 (print), ISSN 2348-1226 (online) Vol. 13, Issue 3, July 2025 - September 2025 Page No: 123-129 Research Publish Journals Website: www.researchpublish.com Published Date: 26-September-2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17206883 Paper Download Link (Source) https://www.researchpublish.com/papers/fast-food-consumption-and-bmi-in-urban-adolescent-girls-of-muzaffarpur-district-bihar