What Drives Fast Food Consumption in Asian Low- and Middle-Income Countries?-A Narrative Review of Patterns and Influencing Factors

Abstract

Fast food has become a common dietary choice worldwide, with significant health consequences. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly in Asia, the consumption of fast food has risen, yet research providing a comprehensive summary of fast food consumption patterns is limited. Therefore, this review consolidates evidence on the patterns and factors influencing fast food consumption in Asian LMICs. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, and references of relevant studies, covering peer-reviewed articles published in English from January 1, 2011, to June 30, 2023. A total of 87 studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing data from 178,554 individuals across 26 countries. The findings indicated a higher fast food consumption with a preference for Western fast food, such as pizza, burgers, fried chicken, French fries, and sandwiches, over local options. Key factors driving fast food consumption included taste, affordability, accessibility, mass media advertisement, restaurant environment, service quality, and family/peer influence. Furthermore, socioeconomic status, age, gender, and educational background influenced the consumption. For adults, factors like time constraints, lack of alternatives, employment status, health consciousness, stress, and food quality and hygiene were important. The increasing presence of fast food in the Asian diet highlights the need for comprehensive policies to curb this trend and protect public health.

Keywords: Asia; fast food; low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs).

FIGURE 1

Flowchart of the study selection procedure.