Reducing Fast Food Consumption in Students Using a Parent-Teacher Participation-Based Intervention: An Experimental Approach

Abstract Background: Fast food consumption among students is increasing dramatically. This study aims to evaluate the effect of an intervention based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) in reducing fast food consumption among high school students. Method: 160 high school students from Iran were randomly recruited and assigned to experiment or control groups. The intervention was conducted over three consecutive weeks, consisting of four, 45-minute teaching sessions. Parameters were assessed on three occasions: pretest, posttest, and follow-up. In these stages, participants responded to a scale on fast food consumption which measures the beliefs and behaviors toward fast food. Results: findings revealed a statistically significant difference in the posttest between experiment and control groups in the major components of fast food consumption including behavioral beliefs (t = 5.1, p < 0001), evaluation of behavioral outcomes (t = 5.3, p < 0001), normative beliefs (t = 2.3, p < 05), motivation to comply (t = 5.5, p < 0001), control beliefs (t = 4.4, p < 0001), perceived power (t = 3.3, p < 0001), and behavioral intention (t = .68, p < 0001). Similar results were obtained in the follow-up stage. Conclusion: The findings suggest that the parent-teacher participation based intervention can be used to reduce fast food consumption amongst high school students both cognitively and behaviorally. Moreover, this intervention can be further customized to increase healthy food consumption in school students and other age groups beyond the context of school.