FAST FOOD ADDICTION, BODY ESTEEM AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

Objective: To determine whether fast food addiction correlate with body esteem and psychological well-being among university students. Study Design: Cross sectional analytical study. Place and Duration of Study: University of Lahore, Superior University and Comsats University of Lahore, from Jan to May 2019. Methodology: Two hundred students of BS and M.Sc were included through purposive sampling. Only those students were included who were using fast food on regular basis (1 to 3 times per day). Participants diagnosed or under treatment of any clinical problem were not included in the study. Sample size was calculated by the software G-Power (version 3.1.9.2). Food addiction was assessed using Yale Food Addiction Scale. Body esteem was measured using Franzoi Body Esteem Questionnaire and psychological well-being was assessed using Ryff Psychological Well-being Scale. Results: There were more participants who were using fast food one time (per day) 35 (17.5%), two times 84 (42%) and three times 81 (40.5%). Students who were using fast food addiction had low level of psychological well being and low level of body esteem. However, Body esteem and psychological well-being were significantly positively correlated. Fast food addicted girls had significant lower level of body esteem and psychological well being than fast food addicted boys. Conclusion: The use of food addiction resulted in low level of body esteem and low psychological well being. A definitive negative correlation was found in fast food addiction with body-esteem and psychological well-being among university students.