Perceived Effect of Junk Food Consumption on Health and Well Being of Undergraduate in Both Private and Public Universities Osogbo Osun State

Background: Junk food consumption is increasingly common among university students and poses significant public health concerns. These foods, high in sugars, fats, and calories
but low in nutrients, are linked to rising rates of non-communicable diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. Despite widespread awareness, many students continue to engage in unhealthy eating habits, making it essential to examine their knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions.
Aim: This study aims to assess the perceived effects of junk food consumption on the health and well-being of Undergraduate students in both public and private Universities, Osogbo
Osun State, providing valuable insights into the dietary habits of Nigerian students and the implications for their long-term health.
Methodology: The study was descriptive and cross-sectional in design. A total of 359 respondents were recruited for the study sample using a multistage sampling techniques
for data collection. A pretested semi-structured self-administered questionnaire was used to interview the student using the kobo collect application. Statistical analysis was done using IBM/SPSS version 23.0 and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The level of knowledge was scored using a scale of (0-5) as poor knowledge and (>5-10) as good
knowledge. The Attitude was scored using the scale of (0–19) as negative attitude and (20– 40) as positive attitude. The perception was scored using the scale of (0–23) as negative perception and (>24–48) as positive perception.
Results: The mean age of the respondents is 19.96±2.4. The majority of respondents (68.8%) falls within the age range 15–20 years while for the gender distribution, most respondents were female (73.3%). The study revealed that 93.3% of respondents had good knowledge of junk food and its health risks, while 6.7% had poor knowledge. A majority of the respondent 62.7% exhibited a positive attitude, and 94.4% had a positive perception.
However, frequent consumption persisted, suggesting a gap between knowledge and practice. The statistical analysis showed that there is no significant association between knowledge and attitude (x²=0.207, df=1, p-value =0.666) but socio-demographic factors did not significantly affect perception.
Conclusion: Although students are generally aware of the health risks of junk food, behavioral change remains limited due to convenience, affordability, and social factors.
Health promotion intervention such as seminars and workshops targeted toward students are hereby recommended to promote healthier eating among students.
Keywords: Dietary behavior, Fast food, Health awareness, University students, Eating
patterns