Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of High Secondary Schools Students towards Fast Foods in Hail City- Saudi Arabia

A cross-sectional schools-based study was conducted from September 2015 to March 2015 with the aim of investigating knowledge, attitude, and practice of students towards fast foods and to pinpoint the factors that influencing eating practice of the students. A total of 248 students from both boys and girl’s schools in Hail city were included randomly in this study. A structured questionnaire was constructed to identify their socio –demographic characteristics and investigate the difference in attitude and practices towards fast food among female and male students. The results showed that, students both sexes were overweight. The females were more over weight than the males (27.3, 25.7BMI respectively). The practice of attending fast foods restaurants was prevailing among the male students more than the females. The knowledge of both female and male students about fast foods, and its health effects at statistical significant level (<.05), was not significantly different. This knowledge did not deter students and their families from using fast foods once and more frequently in days and weeks, with families. The majority of male students visit fast foods restaurants with friends, while most of the female students went to fast food restaurants with their families probably due to the conservative nature of the community of Hail city. Results of the present study indicate that knowledge, attitude, and practice of the students towards fast food should be improved. Extensive nutrition education is needed to improve the students practice towards fast food.