ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Nutr.
Sec. Nutritional Epidemiology
This article is part of the Research TopicDietary Patterns and Human Health: Epidemiological Evidence, Mechanistic Exploration, and Practical ApplicationsView all articles
Junk Food Consumption and Socio-Demographic Correlates Among Health Sciences Students in the UAE
Provisionally accepted
Vimala Edwin1*
Mohamed Anas Patni2*
Ramya Kundayi Ravi1
Priya Latha1
Sirajunisa Talath3Krishna Chytanya Nallan Chakravartula Sri4
Veronica Edwin Nayagam2- 1RAK Medical & Health Sciences University, Ras Al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates
- 2Ras Al Khaimah Medical & Health Sciences University College of Medical Sciences, Ras Al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates
- 3Ras Al Khaimah Medical & Health Sciences University College of Pharmacy, Ras Al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates
- 4Ras Al Khaimah Medical & Health Sciences University College of Dental Sciences, Ras Al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates
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Background/Objectives: Junk food consumption is rising among university students despite well-documented health risks. This study examines the socio-demographic factors influencing junk food consumption among health professional students in the UAE. Methods: A validated, semi-structured questionnaire was used to assess junk-food awareness, consumption patterns, and behavioral preferences among health-professional students. The tool comprised sections on sociodemographic characteristics, awareness of junk food as unhealthy, consumption frequency, portion size, and eating behaviors. Awareness items were scored as 1 = Yes and 0 = No/Don't know, while consumption items were rated on a four-point scale (0–3) based on frequency. Internal consistency of the instrument was confirmed through pilot testing, with Cronbach's alpha = 0.82 for awareness items and 0.79 for consumption items. Results: Awareness of junk food hazards was generally high, especially for items such as pizza (91.4%), bakery products (90.1%), and fried chicken (89.9%). Lower awareness was noted for energy drinks (61%) and sweetened fruit drinks (65.9%). Consumption varied significantly by academic year (p < 0.001), with Year 2 and Year 3 students reporting the highest intake between meals. Females demonstrated higher awareness (p = 0.038) and consumption scores (p = 0.012). Regression analysis identified age, gender, self-rated health, and portion size as significant predictors of BMI (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Despite high awareness, moderate junk food consumption persists, particularly of beverages. Socio-demographic factors such as age, gender, and self-rated health strongly influence dietary habits. Findings highlight the need for targeted campus-based interventions to reduce unhealthy eating among future healthcare professionals.
Keywords: Body Mass Index, Eating Habits, Energy Drinks, Food Habits, Students
Received: 09 Nov 2025; Accepted: 27 Jan 2026.
Copyright: © 2026 Edwin, Patni, Ravi, Latha, Talath, Chakravartula Sri and Nayagam. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Vimala Edwin
Mohamed Anas Patni
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