The association between snack food consumption and overweight/obesity in young adults aged 18 to 39, in Langa Township, Western Cape Province

Abstract

Introduction: South Africa is experiencing a significant rise in overweight/obesity of both male and female, with two out of three females and one out of three males having a BMI ≥25. Regular consumption of energy dense foods such as snacks and sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) contributes to this situation. Young adults is defined as 18 to 39 years of age. This current generation of young adults are living in transitioning times as they grown up in the food environment of obesogenicity that started in the early 1980s. Eating habits, environmental factors and genetic factors have been identified as contributing factors to overweight and obesity. Aim: The aim of the study is to investigate the association between consumption of snack foods and overweight and obesity among young adults aged 18 to 39 years living in Langa Township, Western Cape, South Africa. Methodology: The study design is quantitative cross-sectional, exploring secondary data from 2005 young adults who participated in the baseline study of “The association of the implementation of the South African health promotion levy and dietary intake and consumption of SSBs in adults aged 18 to 39 years in Langa” conducted in 2018. SPSS was used to analyse data. The prevalence of overweight/obesity as well as snack foods consumption reported on one 24 hour (24-hr) recall is presented through descriptive statistics using tables and graphs. Pearson’s correlation coefficient or Chi-square test (depending on the characteristics of the specific variables) was used to determine the association between snack foods and SSBs and overweight and obesity. Findings: The study shows that the prevalence of overweight/obesity increase with age. Two out of three participants between 25 to 39 years of age were overweight/obese compared to one out of three aged 18 to 24 years. Most participants (86.2%) consumed snack foods during the previous 24hrs.