IMPACT OF PROLIFERATION OF FAST FOOD STALLS NEAR EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Abstract

The proliferation of fast food stalls near educational institutions has influenced student’s dietary
choices, raising concerns about long-term health implications. This study investigates the key
factors driving fast food consumption among college students in Manipur, their awareness of
health risks, and their perspectives on potential policy interventions. A self-reported
questionnaire was distributed to assess eating patterns, psychological influences, and perceptions
of fast food accessibility. A total of eighty students were selected from three different institutes
in Imphal. Descriptive statistical analyses were applied and the findings revealed that
affordability, convenience, and peer influence are the primary factors of fast food consumption,
regardless of the awareness of its negative health effects. Whereas in the Chi-Square Test of
Independence, between fast food availability and consumption frequency, the findings was not
statistically significant, the data suggest a pattern where students perceiving higher availability of
fast food tend to consume it more frequently. Further, Pearson correlation analyses validated a
positive association between advertisement exposure and fast food consumption as well as a
moderate positive correlation with peer influence, highlighting the role of external factors in
dietary behavior. These findings underline the need for institutional and policy level
interventions to promote healthier food choices.