IOSR Journal of Pharmacy and Biological Sciences (IOSR-JPBS) e-ISSN:2278-3008, p-ISSN:2319-7676. Volume 12, Issue 1 Ver. I (Jan. - Feb.2017), PP 68-75 www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/3008-1201016875 www.iosrjournals.org 68 | Page Bangladeshi Student's Standpoint on Junk Food Consumption and Social Behaviour Tanzina Sharmin Nipun 1* , Dipti Debnath 2 , Md. Sium-Ul Hossain Miah 3 , Asma Kabir 4 , Muhammad Kamal Hossain 5 1 Department of Pharmacy, University of Chittagong, Chittagong-4331, Bangladesh 2 Department. of Pharmacy, AtishDipankar University of Science and Technology, Banani, Dhaka-1213, Bangladesh 3 Executive Production, Square Pharmaceuticals Limited, Bangladesh 4 Department. of Pharmacy, AtishDipankar University of Science and Technology, Banani, Dhaka-1213, Bangladesh 5 Department of Pharmacy, University of Science and Technology Chittagong, Bangladesh Abstract: Consumption of takeaway and fast food by young adolescents is no longer confined to the developed countries; it has spread to the developing countries as well. The culture of fast food consumption has replaced the traditional meal among university students and is a great public health concern. Excessive consumption of fast food is responsible for obesity epidemics and the cause of a dramatic increase of obesity-related diseases. A cross-sectional study was carried out from March to December, 2015 among students attending in five established Universities of Bangladesh, Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University, American International University of Bangladesh, Gono University and Sher-e-Bangla Agriculture University. The aim of the present study was to examine the preference, prevalence and pattern of fast food consumption among the students. The prevalence of fast food consumption among those students was 98.5%, and 43.3% of their pocket money was spent on its purchase. The important factors for the preference of fast food include good taste, easy accessibility, increased convenience, and pocket friendly in nature. Approximately 22% of the respondents mentioned that they consumed fast food 4 days per week and more than one-fifth had the meal every day. Fifty four percent of the respondents skipped their breakfast due to a variety of reasons including class pressure and had fast food after finishing their classes, either from varsity canteens or other fast-food outlets. Though 98% of the students were well informed about the negative effects associated with excessive fast food consumption, they were still profoundly addicted to it. Specific health education programs, dietary guidelines and effective public awareness campaigns could be initiated to address the unhealthy lifestyle of university students and improve their health. Keywords: Diseases, Health, Fast food/Junk food, Lifestyle I. Introduction Fast food restaurants or quick-service establishments are often the overall choice for food away from home [1-3]. Socioeconomic trends, such as longer work hours, more women employed outside the home, and a high number of single-parent households have changed the way families obtain their meals [4-7]. As parents experience busier lifestyles, they demand convenience for their family meals. The consumption of fast food is fostered because of the quick service, convenience, good taste, and inexpensive prices relative to more traditional home-style restaurants [8-9]. The National Restaurant Association estimates that the average American eats out an average of four times a week [10]. About 33 percent of children and adolescents in the United States consume fast food on a typical day, providing on average about 12 percent of daily calories, and intake increases with age [11-12]. In non-metropolitan areas, adolescents and parents who live in towns with five or more fast food outlets were 30 percent more likely to eat fast food compared with those in towns with no fast food outlets. The influence of in-town fast food outlets on fast food intake was strongest among families with low motor vehicle access [13]. Fast food is the worst enemy of human health these days! It is of great importance to note that most health problems of this century worldwide are being caused by the bad nutrition and the high cost of good quality food, a contributor of this is fast food. It is a fact that fast food is killing people slowly and most people are not even aware of the effects is having on their health. It can create health problems like obesity, cholesterol problems, diabetes and heart problems, this are just few of catastrophe effects that this type of food is causing. Snack, convenience, fast foods, and sweets continue to dominate food advertisements viewed by children [14- 15]. The marketing of these items contributes to the fast food consumption of children in the United States [16- 19]. On a typical day, preschool-aged children (2 to 5 years) view three television fast food advertisements,