Findings on the Impact of Unhealthy Food Consumption on Oral Health Among Students in General Education Schools of Uvurkhangai Province
- VernacularTitle:Өвөрхангай аймгийн ерөнхий боловсролын сургуулийн сурагчдын эрүүл бус хүнсний хэрэглээ амны хөндийн эрүүл ахуйд нөлөөлж буй байдлыг судалсан дүн
- Author:
Oyunchimeg B
1
;
Regzedmaa Ts
1
;
Dashzeveg B
1
;
Zolzaya M
1
Author Information
1. Uvurkhangai aimag Health Department
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
dental caries prevalence;
fast food;
general education school;
oral hygiene;
unhealthy food
- From:Mongolian Medical Sciences
2026;215(1):20-36
- CountryMongolia
- Language:Mongolian
-
Abstract:
Background:Overconsumption of unhealthy foods and beverages, namely those high in sugar, salt, and
saturated or trans fats, is observed among children and is associated with poorer health
outcomes. The global trend of increasing consumption of foods with high energy and low
nutrient density, including refined foods such as sugary and savory snacks, is reflected across
all socioeconomic groups. Unhealthy food consumption increases the risk of overweight
and obesity, and consequently elevates the risk of developing non-communicable diseases
(NCDs) [1]. Therefore, it is necessary to assess the level of unhealthy food consumption
among general education school students, disseminate the findings to the public, and
develop and implement evidence-based interventions accordingly.
Material and Methods:A cross-sectional analytical study design was employed. A total of 5,578 students were
randomly selected from 33 schools operating in Övцrkhangai Province and included in the
study. Quantitative data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 23.
The prevalence of unhealthy food consumption and oral hygiene status among students was
expressed as frequencies and percentages. The association between two variables was
assessed using Pearson’s Chi-square test, and a p-value of less than 0.05 was considered
statistically significant.
The internal consistency reliability of the questionnaire was determined using Cronbach’s
alpha coefficient.
Results:Among the participating students, 92.7% reported regularly consuming fast food,
and 75.8% consumed it more than three times per week. The main reasons for consuming
unhealthy foods included “being quick and convenient” (53.9%), “craving” (43.6%), and “the widespread availability of such foods nearby” (6.9%). Consumption of all types of sugary and
processed foods showed a statistically significant association with dental caries (p=0.0001),
indicating that these products contribute to the development of tooth decay. Furthermore, the
prevalence of healthy teeth was highest (84.1%) among students who brushed their teeth at
least twice a day, whereas dental caries was more common among students who brushed
once daily or did not brush at all. This suggests that increased frequency of toothbrushing is
associated with lower rates of dental caries, and this relationship was statistically significant
(p<0.000).
Conclusion:The majority of students participating in the study regularly consume unhealthy
foods such as fast food, carbonated beverages, sugary products, ice cream, and chocolate,
and 58.6% were found to have dental caries. When comparing by location, both the
frequency of unhealthy food consumption and the prevalence of dental caries were higher in
the provincial center and in larger or roadside soums.
- Full text:2026070408344755833MAUS-2026-215(1)-20-36.pdf
