RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN UNSUPERVISED DIET PLANNING AND DIETARY-RELATED RISK FACTORS FOR GASTRIC CANCER AMONG YOUNG ADULTS IN WESTERN PROVINCE.

Abstract

Gastric cancer remains a global health burden, with diet, lifestyle, and other modifiable factors as key contributors. Despite advances, the incidence in younger adults is rising. Emerging trends in unsupervised diet regimens among young adults may significantly heighten the risk. This study investigates dietary behaviors and diet-related risk factors for gastric cancer in young adults from Sri Lanka’s Western Province. A case-control study was conducted on 151 participants (35 gastric cancer patients and 116 controls) using a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and structured survey instruments. Statistical analyses included binary logistic regression, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Chi-square tests to examine associations between unsupervised dietary practices, cooking methods, meal patterns, alcohol use, and gastrointestinal symptoms indicative of gastric cancer risk. Awareness of gastric cancer risk factors was also assessed. Participants following unsupervised diet plans exhibited a statistically significant association with gastrointestinal complaints (p = 0.014). High consumption of spicy foods conferred an estimated 8.8-fold increase in gastric cancer risk (OR = 8.827; p = 0.057), while frequent alcohol intake was associated with a 20.6-fold elevation in risk (OR = 20.588; p = 0.056). Cooking methods characterized by high-temperature baking and frying demonstrated strong correlations with gastrointestinal morbidity (p<0.05). Additionally, meal frequency significantly influenced the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms (p = 0.028). Conversely, levels of awareness regarding gastric cancer risk factors did not differ significantly among participants (p = 0.599). These findings underscore the need for targeted public health strategies to regulate dietary practices, improve awareness of gastric cancer risks, and restrict unsupervised access to gastric medication. Educational campaigns and youth-focused interventions are essential for reducing the future disease burden.