Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior to predict low-nutrient junk food consumption among male students

Background: Students are highly tended to consume junk foods. This study aimed to predict the consumption of lownutrient junk foods based on the constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior among male students across Chenaran city in 2015. Methods: This descriptiveanalytic study incorporated 143 eighthgrade students who were selected via simple randomization method. They completed the relevant questionnaire. The data were analyzed in SPSS (version 18) using oneway analysis of variance, regression analysis, and Pearson correlation test. Significance level was 0.05. Results: The junk foods most frequently consumed comprised of chocolate, cake, and fizzy drinks. Results indicated that subjective norms and perceived behavioral control could predict 9 percent of changes in lownutrient junk food consumption. From among the constructs of the theory of planned behavior, attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control are able to predict 16 percent of behavioral intention changes. Conclusions: Given the tendency of students towards the consumption of lownutrient junk foods, administration of theorybased educational interventions such as the theory of planned behavior seems necessary.