The relationship between junk food consumption and the growth and development of preschool children
DOI: https://doi.org/10.56922/mchc.v4i12.2610
Child Development Growth Status Junk Food Preschool Children Weight-For-Height
Abstract
Background: The increasing consumption of junk food among preschool children has raised concerns regarding its potential impact on growth and development. Ultra-processed foods are typically high in calories, sugar, fat, and salt but low in essential nutrients required for optimal child health.
Purpose: This study aimed to determine the association between a history of junk food consumption and growth as well as developmental status among preschool children.
Method: A quantitative study with a cross-sectional design was conducted involving preschool children aged 3–5 years. Junk food consumption history was obtained through questionnaires. Growth status was assessed using the weight-for-height index, while development was measured using the Pre-Screening Developmental Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the Chi-square test with a significance level of 0.05.
Results: The analysis showed a significant association between junk food consumption and growth status (p < 0.05), indicating that higher intake was related to less favorable anthropometric outcomes. However, no significant relationship was found between junk food consumption and developmental status (p > 0.05). Most children demonstrated appropriate development despite moderate levels of junk food intake.
Conclusion: Junk food consumption is linked to children’s growth but not directly associated with developmental outcomes. Growth and development are influenced by multiple interacting factors beyond diet alone.
Suggestion: Future studies should include larger samples and additional variables such as socioeconomic conditions, parenting practices, and physical activity to better understand determinants of child health.
Downloads
References
Alijanzadeh, M., RajabiMajd, N., RezaeiNiaraki, M., Griffiths, M. D., & Alimoradi, Z. (2024). Prevalence and socio-economic determinants of growth and developmental delays among Iranian children aged under five years: A cross sectional study. BMC pediatrics, 24(1), 412.
Andriyani, R., Fadlyana, E., & Tarigan, R. (2023). Factors affecting the developmental status of children aged 6 months to 2 years in urban and rural areas. Children, 10(7), 1214.
Banstola, S., Shrestha, N., & Sharma, B. (2024). Junk food consumption behavior among young children. Journal of Nepal Health Research Council, 22(03), 484-493.
Brahmani, I. A. M., Laksmi, I. G. A. P. S., & Jayanti, D. M. A. D. (2023). Hubungan Pengetahuan Ibu tentang tumbuh kembang dengan perkembangan anak usia 1-2 tahun di UPTD Puskesmas Klungkung II. Jurnal Ilmu Kesehatan Bhakti Husada: Health Sciences Journal, 14(01), 25-32.
Central Bureau of Statistics. (2022). Profil Anak Usia Dini 2022. Retrieved from: https://www.bps.go.id/publication/2022/12/13/dea4ac1faa8b3e121c9fb925/profil-anak-usia-dini-2022.html
Chamarthi, V. S., Shirsat, P., Sonavane, K., Parsi, S., Ravi, U., Ponnam, H. C., & Ro, S. (2025). The impact of ultra-processed foods on pediatric health. Obesity Pillars, 100203.]
Chokor, F. A. Z., Ouaijan, K., Hwalla, N., Jomaa, L., & Nasreddine, L. (2025). Higher consumption of ultra‐processed foods is associated with higher odds of overweight and obesity amongst under‐five children: A national cross‐sectional study in Lebanon. Pediatric Obesity, 20(4), e13177.
Du, M., Wang, L., Martín-Calvo, N., Dhana, K., Khandpur, N., Rossato, S. L., & Zhang, F. F. (2024). Ultraprocessed food intake and body mass index change among youths: a prospective cohort study. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 120(4), 836-845.
Fardlillah, Q. (2024). Dampak pemberian makanan junk food pada usia dini. Al-Athfal: Jurnal Pendidikan Anak, 5(1), 241-250.
Hasriani, S., Pratiwi, W. R., Nurjanna, N., & Arsyad, E. (2022). Optimalisasi Tumbuh Kembang Balita Melalui Promosi Gizi Seimbang bagi Ibu Balita sebagai Pencegahan Stunting di Desa Cenrana Kab. Sidrap. Jurnal Abdi Masyarakat Indonesia, 2(4), 1209-1214.
Hasriani, S., Qardhawijayanti, S., & Pratiwi, W. R. (2024). Edukasi Jajan Sehat pada Anak Usia Dini dalam Upaya Pencegahan Stunting di TK Al Iman Uluale. Jurnal Ragam Pengabdian, 1(3), 310-315.
Hiddayaturrahmi, R., Nasitoh, S., Handayani, Y., & Maribeth, A. L. (2024). Faktor-Faktor yang Mempengaruhi Tumbuh Kembang Anak Usia 0-2 Tahun: Tinjauan Literatur. Scientific Journal, 3 (4), 221–231.
Isang, M. R., Dinatha, N. M., Maku, K. R. M., Bay, M. S. T., & Wea, M. S. (2024). Pentingnya Gizi Mikro Untuk Anak Usia Dini. Jurnal Edukasi Citra Olahraga, 4(3), 145-152.
Malmir, H., Mahdavi, F. S., Ejtahed, H. S., Kazemian, E., Chaharrahi, A., Khonsari, M. N., & Qorbani, M. (2023). Junk food consumption and psychological distress in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Nutritional Neuroscience, 26(9), 807-827.
Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia. (2024). Indonesia Health Profile 2023. Retrieved from https://www.kemkes.go.id/id/indonesia-health-profile-2023
Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia. (2025). Survei Status Gizi Indonesia (SSGI) 2024. Retrieved from: https://www.badankebijakan.kemkes.go.id/survei-status-gizi-indonesia-ssgi-2024/
Morcel, J., Béghin, L., Michels, N., Vanhelst, J., Labreuche, J., Drumez, E., & Gottrand, F. (2022). Identification of lifestyle risk factors in adolescence influencing cardiovascular health in young adults: the BELINDA study. Nutrients, 14(10), 2089.
Muthusamy, P., Davies, S., Ainley, E., & Loganathan, P. (2020). Are routine genetic and urine cytomegalovirus testing useful investigations in symmetrically growth restricted infants?. Early Human Development, 146, 105055.
Nasution, A. P., & Reswari, S. S. A., Aspah, A., Anggraeni, Z., Jahrona, J., Simbolon, S., & Fatimah, P.S. (2025). Peran Gizi Terhadap Pertumbuhan Dan Perkembangan Anak Usia Dini. Indonesian Journal of Islamic Early Childhood Education, 9(2), 1-10.
Nguyen, L., Walters, J., Spies, B., Coppus, A., Massie, J., & Bertonha, T. P. (2025). Food for Thought: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis on the Effects of Ultra‐Processed Foods on Cognition in Children and Adolescents. Food Frontiers, 6(4), 1838-1866.
Petridi, E., Magriplis, E., Karatzi, K., Charidemou, E., Philippou, E., & Zampelas, A. (2025). Ultra processed food consumption in children and adolescents: main food group contributors and associations with weight status. Nutrition Bulletin, 50(2), 278-289.
Ponce-Carreón, A., Monrroy-Campos, R., Paucar, F. H. R., & Talavera-Mendoza, F. (2025). Associations between ultra-processed food consumption and food literacy in preadolescents. Discover Food, 5(1), 296.
Rosi, A., Giampieri, F., Abdelkarim, O., Aly, M., Ammar, A., Frias-Toral, E., & Grosso, G. (2025). Unhealthy Ultra-Processed Food Consumption in Children and Adolescents Living in the Mediterranean Area: The DELICIOUS Project. International Journal of Public Health, 70, 1608318.
Rousham, E. K., Goudet, S., Markey, O., Griffiths, P., Boxer, B., Carroll, C., & Pradeilles, R. (2022). Unhealthy food and beverage consumption in children and risk of overweight and obesity: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Advances in Nutrition, 13(5), 1669-1696.
Schiavon, M., Burton, B. K., Hemager, N., Greve, A. N., Spang, K. S., Ellersgaard, D., & Nudel, R. (2025). Environmental and genetic influences on developmental outcomes across the domains of Language, Cognition, motor Function, and social behavior. European Journal of Neuroscience, 61(12), e70163.
Viana, R. S., De Araújo-Moura, K., & De Moraes, A. C. F. (2025). Worldwide prevalence of the double burden of malnutrition in children and adolescents at the individual level: systematic review and meta-regression. Jornal de pediatria, 101(2), 158-166.
Wanjohi, M. N., Asiki, G., Wilunda, C., Holdsworth, M., Pradeilles, R., Paulo, L. S., & Klipstein-Grobusch, K. (2025). Ultra-processed food consumption is associated with poor diet quality and nutrient intake among adolescents in urban slums, Kenya. International Journal of Public Health, 69, 1607891.
World Health Organization. (2024). Malnutrition fact sheet: Globally, 149 million children under 5 were stunted, 45 million wasted, and 37 million overweight in 2022. Retrieved from: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malnutrition
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 THE JOURNAL OF Mother and Child Health Concerns
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
