Association between Junk Food Consumption and Menstrual Health among Early Adults Female University Students

Abstract

Eating habits have found to be related with several health components among young females. This study sought to assess association between Junk Food Consumption and menstrual health among early adult’s female university students. With this aim, a total of 320 female studying in undergraduate programs in five universities were asked to respond to cross-sectional survey questionnaire. The questionnaire composed of three sections that included demographics, junk food consumption and menstruation related questions. The t-test analysis showed that eating junk food had a significant effect on female student’s menstrual health. The participants reported irregular menstruation who consumed significantly higher level of refined grains, salty snacks, sweet snacks, bakery items and fast food compared with participants reported regular menstruation. The result also revealed that consumption of sweet snacks, carbonated drinks, street food and fast food were significantly higher in those participants who have pre-menstrual symptoms compared with participants reported regular menstruation. These findings suggest that junk food consumption has negative effect on menstrual health of early adult female studying in under graduate study programme in universities professional in higher education institutions should introduce policies and interventional, strategies, polices, awareness programmes students cancelling to reduce junk food consumption in the universities.