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Background <p>The Western diet has been linked to poorer health indicators and behavioral dysregulation in adolescents, yet little research has specifically examined fast food’s associations with self-regulation. Regulation of emotions, cognitions, and behaviors is critical for the transition into adolescence.</p> Objective <p>This study explored whether frequency of fast food consumption was associated with the three domains of self-regulation in early adolescents while controlling for sociodemographic factors.</p> Methods <p>Participants were 2,164 early adolescents (<i>M</i> = 12.53 years) drawn from a large, school-based dataset. Adolescents reported their weekly frequency of fast food consumption and completed a 13-item self-regulation measure with domain-specific subscales. Covariates included age, grade, gender, subjective socioeconomic status, and parental monitoring. Multiple regression was utilized to test whether fast food consumption was uniquely associated with self-regulation after adjusting for covariates.</p> Results <p>Frequent fast food consumption was associated with lower overall self-regulation scores (β = –0.11, <i>p</i> &lt; .001). When subscales were examined, frequent fast food consumption remained significantly associated with poorer emotional self-regulation (β = –0.12, <i>p</i> &lt; .001), and behavioral self-regulation (β = –0.08, <i>p</i> &lt; .001).</p> Conclusions <p>Fast food consumption in general showed modest negative associations with overall, emotional, and behavioral self-regulation in early adolescence, even after adjusting for demographic factors. Additionally, low-income youth’s self-perceived SES and reported fast food consumption aligned with broader literature on nutritional disparities in low-income communities. These findings cautiously emphasize the importance of considering everyday health behaviors when examining self-regulatory abilities in early adolescence. Further research is necessary to replicate findings and to determine whether practical implications exist.</p>

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Fast Food, Slower Control? Exploring the Relationship Between Fast Food Consumption and Self-Regulatory Abilities in Early Adolescents

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年5月11日

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  • Meagan Ashley Belflower

摘要

Background

The Western diet has been linked to poorer health indicators and behavioral dysregulation in adolescents, yet little research has specifically examined fast food’s associations with self-regulation. Regulation of emotions, cognitions, and behaviors is critical for the transition into adolescence.

Objective

This study explored whether frequency of fast food consumption was associated with the three domains of self-regulation in early adolescents while controlling for sociodemographic factors.

Methods

Participants were 2,164 early adolescents (M = 12.53 years) drawn from a large, school-based dataset. Adolescents reported their weekly frequency of fast food consumption and completed a 13-item self-regulation measure with domain-specific subscales. Covariates included age, grade, gender, subjective socioeconomic status, and parental monitoring. Multiple regression was utilized to test whether fast food consumption was uniquely associated with self-regulation after adjusting for covariates.

Results

Frequent fast food consumption was associated with lower overall self-regulation scores (β = –0.11, p < .001). When subscales were examined, frequent fast food consumption remained significantly associated with poorer emotional self-regulation (β = –0.12, p < .001), and behavioral self-regulation (β = –0.08, p < .001).

Conclusions

Fast food consumption in general showed modest negative associations with overall, emotional, and behavioral self-regulation in early adolescence, even after adjusting for demographic factors. Additionally, low-income youth’s self-perceived SES and reported fast food consumption aligned with broader literature on nutritional disparities in low-income communities. These findings cautiously emphasize the importance of considering everyday health behaviors when examining self-regulatory abilities in early adolescence. Further research is necessary to replicate findings and to determine whether practical implications exist.