Fast Food Consumption among Primary Schools Pupils and its Influence on the Attainment of Sustainable Development Goal3

High consumption rate of unhealthy foods such as sweets, snacks and soft drinks between main meals among school-aged children is a major lifestyle problem in Western society and has important implications on health and wellbeing, which is one of the cardinal points of Sustainable development Goals (SDGs ). This study examined fast food consumption among primary school pupils and its influence on the attainment of sustainable development goal3. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. Population of the study was 3,682 primary 5 and 6 pupils in the 49 public primary schools in Epe Local Government Area in 2018/2019 academic session. Sample size was 360 pupils which were randomly selected from the population. Three research questions were raised to guide the study and one hypothesis was formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. Two instruments were used for data collection. One of the instruments was a validated questionnaire while the second instrument was used to determine the nutritional status of the pupils. The second instrument was used to obtain data on the pupils’ age, height and weight. Data collected were analyzed using percentage, standard deviation and t-test. Findings revealed that the fast foods commonly consumed by the pupils included puff-puff, doughnut, chin-chin, breadroll, samosa, biscuit, gala, fish-roll, meat-pie, coco chips, plantain chips, cookies, sausage roll, sweet potato chips and “Ojojo”. Findings from the study showed that majority of the pupils (50% girls and 40% boys) of the pupils have normal weight. Thirty-eight percent (38%) are underweight, 37% of the pupils are pre-obese while 35% of the pupils were obese. The study revealed that often consumption of fast foods may result to breakdown of the digestive system; increased sugar levels; increased risk of type 2diabetes and blood pressure; respiratory problems among more which may hinder the realization of the sustainable development goal 3(Good health and wellbeing). The result of hypothesis tested showed no significant difference between fast foods consumption of the male and female pupils (tcal <0.05). Among the recommendations proffered were that Parents should monitor the kinds of meals their children eat by spending time with them and eating healthy so that their children can emulate them.