RESTAURANT ADVERTISEMENT EFFECT ON OBESITY AND CHRONIC DISEASES.

Obesity and Chronic diseases are now considered firm-connected entities affect generally the whole global population and is seen prominently in some particular regions. Our country is consider one the highest rate in obesity and chronic diseases. We focused on the aggressiveness of restaurant advertisement and their effect on individual’s fast food behavior and choices which may lead to obesity and its complications like chronic diseases. In this cross-sectional survey study done in Riyadh city. Data were collected thorough a self-administrated questionnaire from people seen in public places, some were interviewed to obtain extra information particularly their BMI. The sample size was reasonable, 82 persons conducted the questionnaire and chosen for the study. Data entered and analyzed using the SPSS program. In our study we target the age group from 15 to 45 years old the mean age was 26 year-old. The majority think fast food is unhealthy habit (71%), but they still eat it on regular basis as daily, 3 times/week, once a week (14.8%, 27.2%, and 45.7% respectively). Vast majority report that they enjoy eating fast food (92.6%). 75.3% they choose unhealthy meals from their preferred restaurants. Street ads were the top most way for restaurant to access their target population then followed by TV and radio (56.8%, 23.5% respectively). 90.1% of the survived people think that restaurant overstate in their advertisements either in the content or display frequency. 70.4% ads affect their eating behavior. 80.2% strongly agreed that obesity and fast food have a direct effect on their health and chronic diseases occurrence. Most people eat fast food because they enjoy it or to coup with new fast life style, the ads are showed to people massively and affect their decisions and behavior unconsciously. There were weak points in the supervising authorities lead to lack the control on restaurants\' ads. The small size of the sample limits its ability for being applicable and being conducted in one single city (Riyadh) also make it unreasonable to be generalized.