Obesity is a chronic disease and defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to
human health. World Health Organization (WHO) predicts that about 2.7 billion adults will be overweight
and obese by 2025. Obesity rate in Sri Lanka has increased from 5% in 2008 to 6.8% in 2014 (WHO, 2014)
resulting in an increase in government’s health cost. Moreover, 75% of total deaths in the country are caused
by diet related non communicable diseases (NCDs) (WHO, 2014) and nearly 1 in 5 people die prematurely
from NCDs. Increase of body weight is directly linked with excessive calorie intake and lack of physical
exercise. When the body mass index (BMI) is in between 25 and 29.9 kg/m2 they are considered as
overweight or pre obese (WHO, 2004). People are obese when the BMI exceeds 30 kg/m2. There is a
strong association between diet and risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers
(Trichopoulou et al., 2003). Fast food represents food which is quickly prepared and eaten outside the
home. In South Asian countries particularly in Sri Lanka, “Rolls” (fish/ vegetable), “Cutlets” (fish/
vegetable/ egg), “Roti” (vegetable/egg/naan), “Wade”, “Pastries”, “Patties” and “Buns” (fish/ vegetable)
are some prominent types of fast foods. Kearney (2010) showed that fast food contributes a great change
in nutrition transition through the composition and structure of healthy traditional diets to westernized
diet. Fast foods are convenient and economical for people with busy lifestyles but these foods are high in
saturated fat, sugar, salt and energy (Wellard et al., 2012; Wilcox et al., 2013; Almiron-Roig et al., 2013; Roe
et al., 2013).
Therefore, nutrition transition increases the intake of fat (particularly saturated fat), sugar, sodium,
cholesterol and animal products while decreasing the consumption of fiber and unrefined cereals (Afolabi
et al., 2013). Greater availability of fast food is positively associated with obesity (Dunn et al., 2012) and
considered as one of the major determinant factors of obesity rates (Currie et al., 2010). Fast and convenient
nature and lower price have made fast foods more popular and affordable particularly among people in
their teens and twenties (Cotti and Teft, 2013, Seo et al., 2011).
