Effectiveness of an awareness programme on knowledge and attitude regarding the ill effects of junk food and fast food among students in a selected high school of Mulki, Mangalore

Abstract

Background: Contemporary modern lifestyle has encouraged an obesogenic culture of eating amongst children. The adolescents are more exposed to junk food and fast food. Multiple factors may influence an adolescent’s susceptibility to this eating culture, and thus act as a barrier to healthy eating. Due to the increasing prevalence of obesity and its associated illnesses amongst adolescents, the need to reduce these barriers has become a necessity. Materials and Methods: An evaluative research approach, quasi experimental design was used for the study. The sample consisted of 100 high school students selected by simple random sampling method from a selected high school at Mulki, Mangalore. Pre-test was conducted by administering a structured knowledge questionnaire and an attitude rating scale prepared by the investigator. After the pre-test, the awareness programme was given to the high school students and on the eighth day post-test was conducted using the same structured knowledge questionnaire and attitude scale. The collected data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Result: The mean percentage post-test knowledge score (80.13%) was higher than the mean percentage pre-test knowledge score (59.96%). The computed ‘t’ value (t99 =15.198, p