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Food plays very vital role in maintaining proper health and also helps in prevention and cure of diseases.

Good nutritive food makes health, but at the same time bad or unhealthy food give rise to several diseases. Our cells, tissues and all organs works properly only with nutritious food which we eat. All body functions metabolic, hormonal, mental, physical or chemical cannot be performed by the body without nutritive food. Food provides us with important nutrition which is important in cure of diseases. Many researchers claims that various diseases are caused by essential nutrients under supply, but they also claim these diseases can also be corrected when all the nutrients are supplied, in a proper way. A well-balanced, nutritive and correct diet is thus of utmost importance for the maintenance of good health and the healing of diseases. Such a diet, obviously should be made up of foods, which in combination would supply all the essential nutrients. In todays fast paced world, people look at faster alternatives of food. Something that is quick to make, easy to carry and cheaper option. Hence, the advent of fast food joints. Although these foods are better in taste and do not take much time in preparation, they are unhealthy and loaded with fats. Fast foods remain extremely popular, despite their un healthiness. However, there are many reasons to try to make healthier choices about food instead of being taken in by the allure of quick and convenient fast food restaurants. Calories Fast food has more calories on average than healthy foods do, leading to greater weight gain for people who make fast food a major part of their diet. Fats Not only does fast food generally contain more fat than healthy foods, but it also contains worse types of fats. Healthy food primarily contains polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, while fast food is high in saturated fats and trans fats, the kind which contribute to heart disease. Cost Fast food is often cheaper than healthy food, which may account for some of its popularity. The inexpensive nature of fast food is partly due to the inferior ingredients used. Nutrients

Healthy foods are by definition nutrient-rich, with vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals that benefit the body. Fast food, due to ingredients and preparation techniques, tends to be nutrient-poor even though it is high in calories. Convenience One big benefit of fast food is its convenience, since it is quicker to prepare or purchase than healthy foods. By taking shortcuts on healthiness, fast food can often be prepared in minutes, or even seconds. Taking all these into consideration, our study aims at trying to understand the reasons why students at IMNU prefer fast foods to the freshly made mess food.

Literature Review 1.Fast-Food Consumption Habits of University Students:The Sample of Ankara Hulya Yardimci , Yahya Ozdogan2, Ayse Ozier Ozcelik1 and Melin Saip Surucuoglu1 'Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey,2Department of Nutrition Sciences, School of Home Economics, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey

The aim of this research was to determine fast-food consumption habits of university students. A total of 401 students, of whom 297 were female (74.0%) and 104 were male (26.0%), from different universities in Ankara constituted the sample of the research. In the research a questionnaire was used as data gathering tool. In this research, it was determined that the rate of fast-food consuming university students is high. Such a diet has become a part of today's way of living. In fast-food menus, some nutrients are inadequate whereas some others are oversupplied. Offering healthy options in these menus will help people keep healthy. It is believed that healthier menus will be more available in fast-food restaurants if inspections on menus are performed and nutrition facts are written on menus more clearly.

2.Food Intake Is Influenced by Sensory Sensitivity By: Naish, Katherine R.; Harris, Gillian; Bruce, Amanda. PLoS ONE. Aug2012, Vol. 7 Issue 8, Special section p1-4. 4p. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0043622. Wide availability of highly palatable foods is often blamed for the rising incidence of obesity. As palatability is largely determined by the sensory properties of food, this study investigated this study investigated how sensitivity to these properties affects how much we eat.

3.Perceived Effects of Stress on Food Choice : By Georgina Oliver Jane Wardle Physiology & Behavior Volume 66, Issue 3, May 1999, Pages 511 515 Self-reported effects of stress on eating behaviour and food were assessed in a brief questionnaire in 212 students. Snacking behaviour was reportedly increased by stress in the majority of respondents (73%) regardless of gender or dieting status. The overall increase in snacking during stress was reflected by reports of increased intake of snack-type foods in all respondents

Research Design The research will be conducted using descriptive approach. Our project aims at finding out the habits and reasons for poor food choices. So we would use the descriptive approach in this survey.

Targeted Sample Population: The educated urban population between 18 to 26 years of age We are looking at the young college students of Nirma university. Sampling Plan: This population will be further differentiated on various parameters like: Gender Course of study

Methods of Data Collection: Web based survey, Questionnaires The use of field research is beneficial in a manner where people are closer to real world conditions and that it is the best way to discover the particular information required. Business can be sure that the information gathered is up to date. Online surveys automate the tedious paper survey process so that the responses are automatically submitted in to the database and prepared for analysis.

Method of Data Analysis: Coding Methods An interpretative technique that organizes the data and provides means to introduce the interpretations of it into certain quantitative methods. Most coding requires the analyst to read the data and demarcate segments within it. Each segment is labeled with a code usually a word or short phrase that suggests how the associated data segments inform the research objectives. When coding is complete, the analyst prepares reports via a mix of: summarizing the prevalence of codes, discussing similarities and differences in related codes across distinct original sources/contexts, or comparing the relationship between one or more codes. Scale of Measurement: Combination of various scales will be used such as: Simple category scale Multi choice single response scale Likert scale

Beneficiaries:

1. Students would understand how their habits are harming them 2. Parents would be able to provide them with better food alternatives 3. The canteen and mess in colleges can change their menu and make it more nutritional with healthier food alternatives

Limitations Honest reporting is not guaranteed The sample is confined to IMNU so the scope of study is small.

Problem Formulation To determine the habits and the reasons for poor food choices among college students.

Research Objective >>To help college students identify their eating habits so that they can have a healthier lifestyle. >> To highlight any alternative nutritional food choices for them. Formulation and Testing of Hypotheses

Awareness Level among students for healthier food option


H0: There is no significant difference in the awareness level of customers with respect to gender H1: There is a significant difference in the awareness level of customers with respect to gender.

Conclusion: We do not accept the null hypothesis. There is a significant difference in the awareness level abut calories with respect to gender.We can say that women are health conscious nowadays.

Spending pattern of male students on fast food:


-H0: males spend more than 200-1000 rupees on fast food in a month -H1:Males do not spend more than 200-1000 rupees in a month on fast food.

Conclusion: We accept the hypothesis. Males spend more money on fast food than females in a month.

DATA ANALYSIS AND INTEPRETATION: 1. What types of food do you prefer?

Male Vegetarian Non Vegetarian


29 14 43

Female
11 6 17 40 20 60

35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Male Female Vegetarian Non Vegetarian

We can see that67.44% males prefer vegetarian food ,32.5% males prefer non vegetarian food. Similarly 64.7 % females prefer vegetarian food and 35.3% females prefer non vegetarian food. We can conclude that since the students in IMNU are preferring vegetarian food to non vegetarian food.

2. How many times do you consume fast food in a week?

Male Every day 1-2 times 3-4 times 5-6 times Rarely
Total 3 20 13 2 5 43

Female Total
0 9 3 0 5 17 3 29 16 2 10 60

25 20 15 10 5 0 Every 1-2 3-4 5-6 rarely day times times times Male Female

3. When do you go to fast food restaurants? We can see that by cross tabulation we could find that males go out for having fast food more than females by 28.57 %

25 20 15 Male 10 5 0 Weekdays Weekends Both Female

Male Female Weekdays Weekends Both


2 18 23 43 0 10 7 17 2 28 30 60

4. Which is your preferred drink? Rank accordingly. Cold drink Fruit/vegetable juice Water Milk shakes Low fat health drink

SCORE

COLD DRINKS 240

FRUIT JUICE 256

WATER 252

MILKSHAKES LOW FAT DRINK 224 165

300

250

200

Cold Drink Fruit Juice

150

Water Milk shake

100

Low fat health Drink

50

0 SCORE

We see that that the most preferred drink is fruit juice. The second most preferred is water at a score of 252. The least popular choice is Low fat health drink at score 165. There is little difference among the two most popular choices. We see that students are opting for healthier options in choice of drink. So if these are provided at mess it would benefit their health.

Ques: Preference of which type of fast food Male 9 (12.5%) 7 9 15 9 2 51 Female 5 (6.9%) 1 6 5 3 1 21 Total 14 8 15 20 12 3 72

Ice Cream Burger Pizza and pasta Street food Chinese Non veg Total

16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Ice cream Burger Pizza and pasta Street food chinese Non veg Male Female

Here we have two variables gender and type of fast food in cross tabulation. We can see from the bar graph that men are consuming the different varieties of fast food much more than women. As we had proved earlier that women are more health conscious ,we can say that due to women being more health conscious and weight conscious they do not indulge in fast food as often than men.

After introducing a moderating variable to refine our conclusion about the type of fast food preference with a third variable on spending. As shown below graphically,street food is most popular among both males and females. They spend mostly on this type of food. It can be concluded that they give more importance to cheap tasty fast .

8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Icecream Burger Pizza and pasta Street food Chinese Non Veg <200M 200-1000M >1000M <200F 200-1000F >1000F

5. Do you eat salad regularly?

Row Labels Male Female Grand Total

Always 12 7 19

Never 2

Often 13 5 18

Rarely 12 6 18

Sometimes 10 5 15

Grand Total 49 23 72

Female

Always Never Often Rarely Sometimes

Male

Always Never Often Rarely Sometimes

6. Are you aware of the calorie and preservative content in Fast food??

Yes No

Male 25 18
43
30 25 20 15 10 5 0

Female
13 4 17 38 22 60

Are u aware of calorie intake Male Are u aware of calorie intake Female

Yes

No

76.47% females are aware of the calorie and preservative content in fast food. 58.13% males are aware of the calorie and preservative content in fast food.

7. My over eating habits depend on 66.66 % women say that mood influences their consumption of fast food the most out of these options. 79.4% males say that taste influences their consumption of fast food the most out of these options.

Row Labels Female Male Grand Total

Mood 9 18 27

No reason 6 10 16

Stress 3 2 5

Taste 5 19 24

Grand Total 23 49 72

20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Mood No reason Stress Taste Female Male

8. What is the amount you spend in a month on eating food outside mess?

Row Labels Female Male Grand Total

Less than Rs.200 4 2 6

More than Rs. 1000 8 23 31

Rs.200Rs.1000 11 24 35

Grand Total 23 49 72

30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Less than Rs.200 More than Rs. 1000 Rs.200-Rs.1000 Female Male

74.19% males spend 200-1000 rupees in a month but only 31.14% females spend 200-1000 rupees on fast food in a month.

We perform a z test to verify this percentage interpretation. H0= males spend 200-1000 rupees in a month H1= males do not spend 200-1000 rupees in a month. Taking significance level at 0.05% critical value of z is 1.96. For our sample the calculated z came out to be -0.806. So, we accept our null hypothesis.

Ques:Mess food is good quality healthy food. Weights 1 2 3 Total Answer Disagree Neutral Agree Male 32 45 64 Female 15 24 25 Weighted score 47 138 267 452 Percentage (%) 10.39 30.53 59.07

We can see that 59.07% of the students agree that mess food is of good quality. VERIFICATION BY z-TEST We will verify this by performing a z-test. Out hypothesis will be Ho = students agree that mess food is of good quality. H1 = students do not agree that mess food is of good quality. Taking significance level at 0.05% critical value of z is 1.96. For our sample the calculated z came out to be -0.945. So, we accepted our null hypothesis. Result: Students agree that mess food is of good quality.

Ques:. I do not like the taste of the mess food. Weights 3 2 1 Total Answer Disagree Neutral Agree Male 20 33 109 Female 6 30 44 Weighted score 78 126 153 357 Percentage (%) 21.84 35.29 42.85

It is a negatively worded Likert statement .So the weights are assigned in reverse order.By percentage we see that about 42.85% students do not like the taste of mess food. VERIFICATION BY z-TEST We will verify this by performing a z-test. Out hypothesis will be Ho = Students like the taste of mess food. H1 = students do not like the taste of mess food. Taking significance level at 0.05% critical value of z is 1.96. For our sample the calculated z came out to be 3.106. So, we did not accept our null hypothesis. Result: Students do not like the taste of mess food.

Bibliography

(1)Gwendolyn Dennis Devins, Johnson C Smith University, 1998 : Food choices and eating habits among college students.

(2) William G. Zikmund ,Business Research Methods, Cengage Learning

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