ISSN: 2226-6348
Open access
The use of fast food among university students has risen owing to its convenience and price, prompting worries over health and academic performance. Although many studies have investigated the health implications of fast food, there is a paucity of research about its influence on students' knowledge, beliefs, and behaviours in higher education settings. This research examines students' perspectives, knowledge, and behaviours about fast food eating at the Faculty of Technical and Vocational Education, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia. A quantitative descriptive study using structured questionnaires examined the determinants affecting students' fast food consumption. Research demonstrates that flavour, affordability, and convenience substantially affect intake, although knowledge of nutritional value is relatively minor. Students acknowledge health hazards but persist in consuming them owing to established lifestyle practices. This research underscores the need for focused nutrition education and university regulations to promote healthy dietary practices among students.
Abraham, S., Martinez, M., Salas, G., & Smith, J. (2018). College students eating habits and knowledge of nutritional requirements. Journal of Nutrition and Human Health, 2(1), 18–21. http://www.alliedacademies.org/nutrition-human-health/ReviewArticle
Acuff, S. F., Dennhardt, A. A., Correia, C. J., & Murphy, J. G. (2019). Measurement of substance-free reinforcement in addiction: A systematic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 70, 79–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2019.04.003
Cohen, E., Cragg, M., deFonseka, J., Hite, A., Rosenberg, M., & Zhou, B. (2015). Statistical review of US macronutrient consumption data, 1965–2011: Americans have been following dietary guidelines, coincident with the rise in obesity. Nutrition, 31(5), 727–732. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.NUT.2015.02.007
Darnton, G. (2023). Likert scales and questions-uses and abuses. 22nd European Conference on Research Methodology in Business and Management, ECRM 2023, 44–49.
Ishak, Z., Fin, L. S., Wan Ibrahim, W. A. H., Md. Zain, F., Yahya, A., Selamat, R., Jalaludin, M. Y., & Mokhtar, A. H. (2022). Fast Food Intake, Emotional and Behavioral Problems among Adolescents with Overweight and Obese Problems Participating in MyBFF@school Intervention Program. SAGE Open, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440221086604
Man Hong, L., & Yee Ming, K. (2023). Empirical Study on Factors Related Attitudes on Fast-Food Consumption among University Students in Malaysia. JMK (Jurnal Manajemen Dan Kewirausahaan), 8(3), 219. https://doi.org/10.32503/jmk.v8i3.4156
Min, J., Jahns, L., Xue, H., Kandiah, J., & Wang, Y. (2018). Americans’ Perceptions about Fast Food and How They Associate with Its Consumption and Obesity Risk. Advances in Nutrition, 9(5), 590–601. https://doi.org/10.1093/ADVANCES/NMY032
Mohammadbeigi, A., Asgarian, A., Moshir, E., Heidari, H., Afrashteh, S., Khazaei, S., & Ansari, H. (2018). Fast food consumption and overweight/obesity prevalence in students and its association with general and abdominal obesity.
Neighbors, C., Foster, D. W., & Fossos, N. (2013). Peer Influences on Addiction. Principles of Addiction: Comprehensive Addictive Behaviors and Disorders, Volume 1, 323–331. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-398336-7.00033-4
Poti, J. M., Duffey, K. J., & Popkin, B. M. (2014). The association of fast food consumption with poor dietary outcomes and obesity among children: is it the fast food or the remainder of the diet? The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 99(1), 162–171. https://doi.org/10.3945/AJCN.113.071928
Reddy, G., & van Dam, R. M. (2020). Food, culture, and identity in multicultural societies: Insights from Singapore. Appetite, 149, 104633. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.APPET.2020.104633
Najib, A. D. M. A., Nawi, M. Z. M., & Azmar, M. F. (2025). A Preliminary Study on Students’ Behaviour, Knowledge and Perceptions towards Fast Food Consumption. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, 14(2), 1076–1084.
Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s)
Published by HRMARS (www.hrmars.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode