Document Type

Article

Source of Publication

Public Health Nutrition

Publication Date

12-16-2025

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the prevalence and identify sociodemographic predictors of regular fast-food consumption (R-FFC) among United Arab Emirates (UAE) adults to inform public health nutrition responses to growing diet-related ill health in the region. Design: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study using purposive, convenience sampling. Data were collected using an online survey adapted from two validated surveys and distributed via social media platforms. R-FFC was defined as visiting a fast-food restaurant to eat ≥ 2 times/week. Pearson’s χ 2 tests and multiple binary logistic regression models were used to investigate prevalence and predictors of R-FFC. All statistical significance was considered at P-value < 0·05. Setting: Community, adults living in the UAE. Participants: UAE residents, ≥ 18 years, who consumed fast food ≥ once during the previous month. Results: Totally, 320 respondents met the inclusion criteria (age = mean 23·7 (sd 7·7) years). The prevalence of R-FFC was 46·6 %. Based on results from the regression model, predictors of R-FFC were being female (AOR 2·47; 95 % CI 1·06, 5·79), married (AOR 3·11; 95 % CI 1·25, 7·77), BMI ≥ 25·0 (AOR 2·09; 95 % CI 1·10, 4·00) and residing outside Abu Dhabi (AOR 32·79; 95 % CI 12·06, 89·16). None of the remaining variables reached statistical significance. Taste was the most common reason for FFC (56·9 %), followed by convenience (21·6 %). Regular fast-food consumers were more likely to ‘super-size’ meals (P = 0·011), eat alone (P = 0·009) and not have regular meal patterns (P = 0·004). Conclusions: The study revealed a high prevalence of R-FFC among UAE adults, and novel cultural predictors and characteristics of FFC in this context, highlighting the importance of socially and culturally informed research and public health strategies in this region.

ISSN

1368-9800

Publisher

Cambridge University Press (CUP)

Volume

29

Issue

1

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences

Keywords

Dietary habits, Fast food, Non-communicable diseases, Obesity, Public health, Regular fast-food consumption, UAE

Scopus ID

105026005998

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Indexed in Scopus

yes

Open Access

yes

Open Access Type

Gold: This publication is openly available in an open access journal/series

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