Researchers in Bangladesh surveyed nearly 10,000 adults to understand their eating habits, focusing on unhealthy foods like fried snacks, sugary treats, and sweet drinks. They found that most adults eat these unhealthy foods at least once a week, with men eating more fried snacks than women. The study discovered that factors like education level, wealth, smoking, and where people live all influence whether someone eats these unhealthy foods regularly. Understanding these patterns can help health officials create better programs to encourage healthier eating habits.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How often adults in Bangladesh eat unhealthy foods like fried snacks, sugary snacks, and sugary drinks, and what factors influence these eating habits
  • Who participated: Nearly 10,000 adults (4,917 men and 5,069 women) between ages 20-59 from different regions across Bangladesh, selected to represent the whole country
  • Key finding: More than half of men (58%) and most women (75%) eat sugary snacks at least weekly; about 77% of men and 35% of women drink sugary beverages weekly. Men eat significantly more fried snacks than women.
  • What it means for you: If you live in Bangladesh or a similar country, this research suggests that unhealthy snacking is very common. Your eating habits may be influenced by your education level, income, where you live, and other lifestyle factors. Being aware of these patterns is the first step toward making healthier food choices.

The Research Details

Researchers used data collected between 2018-2019 from a large national food and nutrition survey in Bangladesh. They interviewed nearly 10,000 adults from 82 different locations across eight regions of the country. The locations were chosen randomly to make sure the results would represent all Bangladeshi adults fairly. Each person answered questions about what unhealthy foods they ate during a typical week, including fried snacks (like chips), sweet snacks (like cookies), and sugary drinks (like soda). The researchers also asked about other factors that might affect eating habits, such as education level, income, smoking status, and health conditions.

This type of study is important because it shows real-world eating patterns across an entire country, not just in one hospital or clinic. By surveying many people from different backgrounds and locations, researchers can identify which groups are most likely to eat unhealthy foods and what factors influence these choices. This information helps governments and health organizations create targeted programs to improve nutrition.

This study has several strengths: it included a large number of people (nearly 10,000), used random selection methods to avoid bias, and gathered information from across the entire country. However, because it only collected information at one point in time, we cannot say whether eating habits are getting better or worse. Additionally, people sometimes forget or misreport what they eat, which could affect the accuracy of results.

What the Results Show

The study found that unhealthy food consumption is extremely common in Bangladesh. Among men, 57.8% eat fried snacks at least weekly, 75.2% eat sugary snacks weekly, and 77.3% drink sugary beverages weekly. Women show different patterns: only 29.6% eat fried snacks weekly, but 58.7% eat sugary snacks weekly, and 35.3% drink sugary beverages weekly. This means men are much more likely to eat fried snacks and drink sugary drinks compared to women, but both groups consume sugary snacks regularly.

The researchers found that several factors are connected to eating these unhealthy foods. Education level and wealth (income) affect both men and women—people with higher education and more money tend to eat more of these unhealthy foods, which might seem surprising but could reflect greater access to these products. Age also matters: younger adults tend to eat more fried snacks than older adults. Where people live (city versus rural areas) influences eating habits for both men and women.

The study revealed some interesting differences between men and women. Among men, smoking was connected to eating all three types of unhealthy foods. Among women, several additional factors were linked to drinking sugary beverages: being married, not eating enough fruits and vegetables, being overweight or obese, spending too much time sitting, having high blood pressure, and having asthma. Interestingly, people who already had diabetes were less likely to drink sugary beverages, possibly because they had been advised by doctors to avoid them. Similarly, people who didn’t eat enough fruits and vegetables were actually less likely to eat fried snacks, which suggests these groups may have different overall eating patterns.

This research adds to growing evidence that unhealthy food consumption is a major problem in developing countries like Bangladesh. Previous studies in other countries have shown similar patterns—that sugary drinks and fried snacks are consumed frequently, especially in urban areas. This study confirms that these unhealthy eating patterns are widespread in Bangladesh and identifies specific groups most at risk. The findings align with global health concerns about rising obesity and diet-related diseases in middle-income countries.

This study has several limitations to consider. First, it only collected information at one point in time, so we cannot determine if eating habits are changing over time. Second, people were asked to remember what they ate, which can be inaccurate—people often forget or underestimate unhealthy foods they consume. Third, the study cannot prove that these factors actually cause unhealthy eating; it only shows that they are associated with it. For example, we cannot say that higher education causes people to eat more fried snacks, only that these two things tend to occur together. Finally, the data is from 2018-2019, so eating patterns may have changed since then.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, health officials should create programs to reduce unhealthy food consumption, especially targeting men and younger adults who show higher consumption rates. Educational campaigns about the health risks of fried snacks and sugary drinks may be particularly helpful for people with higher education and income levels. Communities should work to make healthy foods more available and affordable. Individuals should try to limit fried snacks, sugary snacks, and sugary drinks to occasional treats rather than weekly habits. These recommendations have moderate confidence because the study shows clear patterns but cannot prove cause-and-effect relationships.

Adults in Bangladesh and similar countries should pay attention to these findings, especially if they fall into high-consumption groups (men, younger adults, urban residents, or those with higher education/income). Healthcare providers should use this information to counsel patients about nutrition risks. Government health officials and policymakers should consider these findings when creating public health programs. People with existing health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, or asthma should be especially mindful of their unhealthy food intake. However, this research is specific to Bangladesh and may not apply equally to other countries with different food systems and cultures.

Changes in eating habits typically take time to develop and equally take time to reverse. Most people can begin reducing unhealthy snacks within 2-4 weeks if they make a conscious effort. However, significant health benefits from dietary changes usually appear over months to years. For example, weight loss might become noticeable in 4-8 weeks, but improvements in blood pressure or blood sugar control may take 2-3 months or longer. Sustainable habit change usually requires 3-6 months of consistent effort.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track weekly consumption of three specific items: fried snacks (servings per week), sugary snacks (servings per week), and sugary beverages (servings per week). Set a goal to reduce each by 25% over the next month, then track progress weekly.
  • Use the app to set reminders to drink water instead of sugary drinks at specific times (like with meals or mid-afternoon). Create a shopping list feature that highlights healthy snack alternatives (like nuts, fruit, or popcorn) to replace fried and sugary snacks. Log each time you choose a healthy snack instead of an unhealthy one to build motivation.
  • Create a weekly dashboard showing consumption trends for all three unhealthy food categories. Set monthly goals to gradually reduce intake. Connect with the app’s health tracking features to monitor related metrics like weight, energy levels, and any health conditions mentioned in the study (blood pressure, blood sugar). Use the app’s notification system to celebrate small wins and maintain motivation over 3-6 months.

This research describes eating patterns in Bangladesh and identifies factors associated with unhealthy food consumption, but it cannot prove that these factors directly cause unhealthy eating. The findings are based on data from 2018-2019 and may not reflect current eating habits. Individual circumstances vary greatly, and this information should not replace personalized advice from your doctor or nutritionist. If you have health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, or asthma, consult with your healthcare provider before making significant dietary changes. This study is observational and cannot establish cause-and-effect relationships.