Socio-Economic Implications of Fast-Food Consumption in Urban Sri Lankan Context: Evidence from Wattala–Mabola Urban Council Area

Abstract

Fast food has become increasingly embedded in urban lifestyles, reshaping dietary behaviour, cultural practices, and household economics. The main objective of the research was to analyse the socio-economic impacts of fast-food consumption among urban dwellers. A mixed-method approach was used, considering on both primary and secondary data. The core dataset consisted of structured questionnaires administered to 116 residents selected through stratified sampling while considering the representation of all major ethnic groups in the study area. To conduct interviews, 20 purposively selected participants, including health officers, government officials, and community members were interviewed to capture deeper social and economic knowledge. Findings reveal pronounced social impacts, with 97.4% of respondents identifying adverse health outcomes and 91.4% reporting greater vulnerability among children and youth. Cultural changes were evident through declining traditional food habits (87.9%), disruption of family routines (81%), and reduced cooking skills (75%). Regression analysis demonstrated a statistically significant positive association between fast-food frequency and BMI (R = 0.30 at p < 0.05), though the relationship remained modest due to external lifestyle and sampling factors. Economically, fast food contributed to industrial growth (89.7%) and tax revenue (81.9%) but simultaneously imposed substantial financial burdens, including rising healthcare costs (94.8%), pressure on low-income families (94%), and household budget inflation (89.7%). Overall, the study highlights how urban food culture, behavioural patterns, and biological responses interact within a broader socio-ecological system, emphasizing the need for targeted public health interventions and policies to mitigate the long-term social and economic risks associated with fast-food dependency.