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International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences Research Article
The impact of fast food consumption on menstrual health among college women: A cross-sectional study in Vizianagaram, India
Gopal Anapana, Chandra Sekhara Rao Gurubilli, Sowmya Mudunuru, Dasetti Kundan Harshitha, Gantyada Bhanu prasad, Gedela Parvathi, Tummaganti Indhu, Madaka Ramalakshmi, Kondaka Tharun and Arika Arun Kumar
Year : 2025 | Volume: 10 | Issue: 5 | Pages: 119-131
Received on: 29/07/2025
Revised on: 09/08/2025
Accepted on: 10/09/2025
Published on: 30/09/2025
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Gopal Anapana, Chandra Sekhara Rao Gurubilli, Sowmya Mudunuru, Dasetti Kundan Harshitha, Gantyada Bhanu prasad, Gedela Parvathi, Tummaganti Indhu, Madaka Ramalakshmi, Kondaka Tharun and Arika Arun Kumar( 2025).
The impact of fast food consumption on menstrual health among college women: A cross-sectional study in Vizianagaram, India
. International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences, 10( 5), 119-131.
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Abstract
The growing dependence on fast food among college students has raised concerns about its implications for women’s reproductive health. This study explored the relationship between fast food consumption and menstrual health disturbances among 300 female students aged 17–25 years in Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh. Using a structured, self-administered questionnaire, data were collected on dietary intake, menstrual symptoms, lifestyle behaviours, and health awareness, followed by statistical analysis through chi-square tests and logistic regression. Nearly half of the participants consumed fast food more than twice a week, and higher intake was significantly associated with irregular menstrual cycles, prolonged bleeding, dysmenorrhea, mood instability, fatigue, and absenteeism from academic activities (p < 0.05). Despite these findings, only 20.8% of the respondents were aware of the impact of diet on their menstrual health, and more than half reported making no effort to reduce fast food intake. This gap between awareness and practice reflects both limited nutritional literacy and the normalization of menstrual discomfort. These results highlight that processed diets high in sugars, saturated fats, and preservatives, coupled with micronutrient deficiencies, may disrupt hormonal balance and exacerbate reproductive health issues. This study underscores the urgent need for integrated interventions, including dietary education, menstrual health awareness, and healthier campus food policies, to promote informed lifestyle choices among young women. By addressing these factors during the transitional college years, it may be possible to safeguard both immediate well-being and long-term reproductive health outcomes.
Keywords
Fast food consumption, Menstrual health, Dysmenorrhea, Premenstrual syndrome, Nutritional awareness.
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© The Author(s) 2025. This article is published by International Journal of Zoology and Applied Biosciences under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (creativecommons.org), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
