Abstract

TORRESANI, María E. et al. Consumo en cadenas de comidas rápidas y kioscos: preferencias de escolares y adolescentes de nueve colegios privados de Capital Federal y Gran Buenos Aires. Arch. argent. pediatr. [online]. 2007, vol.105, n.2, pp.109-114. ISSN 0325-0075.

Objective. To estimate consumption preferences in fast-food chains and kiosks, money spent in the purchase of products at the kiosk and the reason of purchase in a group of schoolchildren and adolescents from nine private schools from the city of Buenos Aires (CBA) and its neighboring area [Gran Buenos Aires (GBA)]. Methodology. Transversal, descriptive study. Data were collected from 753 students (boys and girls) from private schools from CBA and GBA: 336 schoolchildren (aged 6-12, mean age: 10,2 ± 1,67 years, 53% girls and 47% boys) and 417 adolescents (aged 12- 18, mean age: 14,98 ± 1,47 years; 62,6% girls and 37,4% boys). Consumption preferences were determined in a voluntary and anonymous way, by means of a food survey, with structured and semi structured questions. Variables: type of product, reason of purchase, money spent at the kiosk. Within the variable "type of product" we considered the covariables: products available at fast-food chains, and kiosk products that with "reason of purchase" were measured by preferences options. The variable "money spent at the kiosk" was measured in pesos, Argentina's currency. Statistical analysis was made with EPIINFO 6.04d and estimated with a confidence interval (IC) of 95%. Results. A high attendance at kiosks and fast-food chains was observed: ≥ 94% (IC: 89,3-97,1) y ≥ 77% (IC: 69,5-83,3), respectively. The most chosen products in fast-food chains, by schoolchildren (boys and girls) as well as by adolescent boys were ice creams (≥ 71%), followed by medium-size combo (≥ 56%). In adolescent girls this order was reversed, they preferred the medium-size combo (74%), and, in second place, ice creams (72%). The most consumed products at the kiosk were chewing gums for girls (27% schoolchildren and 20% adolescents) and sodas for boys (16% schoolchildren and 26% adolescents). In the analysis of the reason of purchase at kiosks, most referred doing it "because they like it" (≥ 71%) without differences in age and sex, being the second reason "appetite", especially in adolescents (≥ 20%). The frequency of attendance at kiosks observed was daily, being the amount of money spent in average of $2 for all groups. Conclusions. The most important preferences of consumption of the evaluated children were ice creams and medium-size menus in fast-food chains, and chewing gums and sodas in kiosks. The main reason for purchasing products in kiosks was their taste. The amount of money spent each time for the purchase of products in kiosks was similar for all groups studied.

Keywords : Fast-food chains; Kiosks; School children; Adolescent.

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