Nutrition Research and Practice

The Korean Nutrition Society (한국영양학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Obesity-related behaviors of Malaysian adolescents: a sample from Kajang district of Selangor state

  • Rezali, Fara Wahida (Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia) ;
  • Chin, Yit Siew (Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia) ;
  • Yusof, Barakatun Nisak Mohd (Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia)
  • Received : 2012.12.09
  • Accepted : 2012.10.17
  • Published : 2012.10.31
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

This study aims to determine the association between obesity-related behaviors (dietary practices, physical activity and body image) and body weight status among adolescents. A total of 382 adolescents (187 males and 195 females) aged 13 to 15 years in Kajang, Selangor participated in this study. Majority of the respondents were Malays (56.0%), followed by Chinese (30.1%) and Indians (13.9%). Dietary practices, physical activity and body image of the adolescents were assessed through the eating behaviors questionnaire, two-day dietary record, two-day physical activity record and multi-dimensional body image scale (MBIS), respectively. Body weight and height were measured by trained researchers. The prevalence of overweight and obesity (19.5%) was about twice the prevalence of underweight (10.5%). About two-thirds of the respondents (72.3%) skipped at least one meal and half of them (56.2%) snacked between meals with a mean energy intake of $1,641{\pm}452$ kcal/day. More than half of the respondents (56.8%) were practicing sedentary lifestyle with a mean energy expenditure of $1,631{\pm}573$ kcal per day. Energy intake (r = 0.153, P < 0.05), physical activity (r = 0.463, P < 0.01) and body image (r = 0.424, P < 0.01) were correlated with BMI. However, meal skipping, snacking and energy expenditure per kg body weight were not associated with body weight status. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that body image, physical activity and energy intake contributed significantly in explaining body weight status of the adolescents. In short, overweight and obesity were likely to be associated not only with energy intake and physical activity, but also body image. Hence, promoting healthy eating, active lifestyle and positive body image should be incorporated in future obesity prevention programmes in adolescents.

Keywords

References

  1. Reilly JJ. Obesity in childhood and adolescence: evidence based clinical and public health perspectives. Postgrad Med J 2006;82: 429-37. https://doi.org/10.1136/pgmj.2005.043836
  2. World Health Organization [Internet]. Obesity and overweight. 2012 [cited 2010 July 23]. Available from: http://www.who.int/ mediacentre/factsheets/fs311/en/.
  3. Ogden CL, Flegal KM, Carroll MD, Johnson CL. Prevalence and trends in overweight among US children and adolescents, 1999- 2000. JAMA 2002;288:1728-32. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.288.14.1728
  4. Wang Y, Monteiro C, Popkin BM. Trends of obesity and underweight in older children and adolescents in the United States, Brazil, China, and Russia. Am J Clin Nutr 2002;75:971-7.
  5. Gordon-Larsen P. Obesity-related knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors in obese and non-obese urban Philadelphia female adolescents. Obes Res 2001;9:112-8. https://doi.org/10.1038/oby.2001.14
  6. Segal DG, Sanchez JC. Childhood obesity in the year 2001. Endocrinologist 2001;11:296-306. https://doi.org/10.1097/00019616-200107000-00008
  7. Swinburn BA, Caterson I, Seidell JC, James WP. Diet, nutrition and the prevention of excess weight gain and obesity. Public Health Nutr 2004;7:123-46.
  8. Reilly JJ, Methven E, McDowell ZC, Hacking B, Alexander D, Stewart L, Kelnar CJ. Health consequences of obesity. Arch Dis Child 2003;88:748-52. https://doi.org/10.1136/adc.88.9.748
  9. Tse MY, Benzie IF. Personal perspective of a group of nursing students in Hong Kong on diet and health: implication for nurse education. Asian J Nurs 2006;9:74-7.
  10. Lasheras L, Aznar S, Merino B, Lopez EG. Factors associated with physical activity among Spanish youth through the National Health Survey. Prev Med 2001;32:455-64. https://doi.org/10.1006/pmed.2001.0843
  11. Tse MM, Yuen DT. Effects of providing a nutrition education program for teenagers: dietary and physical activity patterns. Nurs Health Sci 2009;11:160-5. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-2018.2009.00443.x
  12. Tammelin T, Nayha S, Laitinen J, Rintamäki H, Jarvelin MR. Physical activity and social status in adolescence as predictors of physical inactivity in adulthood. Prev Med 2003;37:375-81. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0091-7435(03)00162-2
  13. Jebb SA. Dietary determinants of obesity. Obes Rev 2007;8 Suppl 1:93-7.
  14. Neumark-Sztainer DR, Wall MM, Haines JI, Story MT, Sherwood NE, van den Berg PA. Shared risk and protective factors for overweight and disordered eating in adolescents. Am J Prev Med 2007;33:359-69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2007.07.031
  15. Mooney E, Farley H, Strugnell C. A qualitative investigation into the opinions of adolescent females regarding their body image concerns and dieting practices in the Republic of Ireland (ROI). Appetite 2009;52:485-91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2008.12.012
  16. Haines J, Neumark-Sztainer D. Prevention of obesity and eating disorders: a consideration of shared risk factors. Health Educ Res 2006;21:770-82. https://doi.org/10.1093/her/cyl094
  17. Kasmini K, Idris MN, Fatimah A, Hanafiah S, Iran H, Asmah Bee MN. Prevalence of overweight and obese school children aged between 7 to 16 years amongst the major 3 ethnic groups in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 1997;6:172-4.
  18. Lekhraj Rampal GR, Mohd Sidik S, Rampal S, Daniel Wong YJ, Chow PL, Liew JS, Shum YS. Prevalence of overweight among secondary school students in Klang district, Selangor. Malays J Nutr 2007;13:1-8.
  19. Zalilah MS, Khor GL, Mirnalini K, Norimah AK, Ang M. Dietary intake, physical activity and energy expenditure of Malaysian adolescents. Singapore Med J 2006;47:491-8.
  20. Moy FM, Gan CY, Zaleha MK. Body mass status of school children and adolescents in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 2004;13:324-9.
  21. World Health Organization [Internet]. Growth reference (5-19 years). [cited 2010 July 23]. Available from: http://www.who.int/growthref/who2007_bmi_for_age/en/index.html.
  22. Chin YS, Mohd Nasir MT. Eating behaviors among female adolescents in Kuantan district, Pahang, Malaysia. Pak J Nutr 2009;8:425-32. https://doi.org/10.3923/pjn.2009.425.432
  23. Ainsworth BE, Haskell WL, Leon AS, Jacobs DR Jr, Montoye HJ, Sallis JF, Paffenbarger RS Jr. Compendium of physical activities: classification of energy costs of human physical activities. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1993;25:71-80. https://doi.org/10.1249/00005768-199301000-00011
  24. Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization/ United Nations University. Human energy requirements: report of a joint FAO/WHO/UNU Expert Consultation. Food Nutr Bull 2005;26:166.
  25. Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. BMR Predictive Equations for Malaysian Adolescents Aged 12-18 Years. Kuala Lumpur: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia; 2004. Contract No.: IRPA 06-02-02-0096.
  26. Chin YS, Taib MN, Shariff ZM, Khor GL. Development of multidimensional body image scale for malaysian female adolescents. Nutr Res Pract 2008;2:85-92. https://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2008.2.2.85
  27. National Coordinating Committee on Food and Nutrition (NCCFN). Recommended Nutrient Intakes for Malaysia: A Report of the Technical Working Group on Nutritional Guidelines. Putrajaya: Ministry of Health; 2005.
  28. Grant AM, Ferguson EL, Toafa V, Henry TE, Guthrie BE. Dietary factors are not associated with high levels of obesity in New Zealand Pacific preschool children. J Nutr 2004;134:2561-5.
  29. Gillis LJ, Kennedy LC, Gillis AM, Bar-Or O. Relationship between juvenile obesity, dietary energy and fat intake and physical activity. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord 2002;26:458-63. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801967
  30. Azizi F, Allahverdian S, Mirmiran P, Rahmani M, Mohammadi F. Dietary factors and body mass index in a group of Iranian adolescents: Tehran lipid and glucose study--2. Int J Vitam Nutr Res 2001;71:123-7. https://doi.org/10.1024/0300-9831.71.2.123
  31. Berkey CS, Rockett HR, Field AE, Gillman MW, Frazier AL, Camargo CA Jr, Colditz GA. Activity, dietary intake, and weight changes in a longitudinal study of preadolescent and adolescent boys and girls. Pediatrics 2000;105:E56. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.105.4.e56
  32. Nielsen SJ, Siega-Riz AM, Popkin BM. Trends in food locations and sources among adolescents and young adults. Prev Med 2002;35:107-13. https://doi.org/10.1006/pmed.2002.1037
  33. Nielsen SJ, Siega-Riz AM, Popkin BM. Trends in energy intake in U.S. between 1977 and 1996: similar shifts seen across age groups. Obes Res 2002;10:370-8. https://doi.org/10.1038/oby.2002.51
  34. Kosulwat V. The nutrition and health transition in Thailand. Public Health Nutr 2002;5:183-9.
  35. Larson NI, Neumark-Sztainer D, Hannan PJ, Story M. Trends in adolescent fruit and vegetable consumption, 1999-2004: project EAT. Am J Prev Med 2007;32:147-50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2006.10.011
  36. Moy FM, Gan CY, Zaleha MK. Eating patterns of school children and adolescents in Kuala Lumpur. Malays J Nutr 2006;12:1-10.
  37. Nicklas TA, Morales M, Linares A, Yang SJ, Baranowski T, De Moor C, Berenson G. Children's meal patterns have changed over a 21-year period: the Bogalusa Heart Study. J Am Diet Assoc 2004;104:753-61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jada.2004.02.030
  38. Hanley AJ, Harris SB, Gittelsohn J, Wolever TM, Saksvig B, Zinman B. Overweight among children and adolescents in a Native Canadian community: prevalence and associated factors. Am J Clin Nutr 2000;71:693-700.
  39. Hassapidou M, Fotiadou E, Maglara E, Papadopoulou SK. Energy intake, diet composition, energy expenditure, and body fatness of adolescents in northern Greece. Obesity (Silver Spring) 2006;14: 855-62. https://doi.org/10.1038/oby.2006.99
  40. Molnar D, Livingstone B. Physical activity in relation to overweight and obesity in children and adolescents. Eur J Pediatr 2000;159 Suppl 1:S45-55.
  41. Buchowski MS, Townsend KM, Chen KY, Acra SA, Sun M. Energy expenditure determined by self-reported physical activity is related to body fatness. Obes Res 1999;7:23-33. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1550-8528.1999.tb00387.x
  42. Dan SP Jr, Mohd Nasir MT, Zalilah MS. Sex and ethnic differentials in physical activity levels of adolescents in Kuantan. Malays J Nutr 2007;13:109-20.
  43. Khor G, Cobiac L, Skrzypiec G. Gender differences in eating behavior and social self concept among Malaysian university students. Malays J Nutr 2002;8:75-98.

Cited by

  1. Daily Physical Activity and Screen Time, but Not Other Sedentary Activities, Are Associated with Measures of Obesity during Childhood vol.12, pp.1, 2014, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph120100146
  2. Adolescent self-report and parent proxy-report of health-related quality of life: an analysis of validity and reliability of PedsQL™ 4.0 among a sample of Malaysian adolescents and their parents vol.13, pp.1, 2015, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-015-0234-4
  3. Disparities in health-related quality of life among healthy adolescents in a developing country - the impact of gender, ethnicity, socio-economic status and weight status vol.41, pp.6, 2015, https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.12252
  4. Dietary Intake among Adolescents in a Middle-Income Country: An Outcome from the Malaysian Health and Adolescents Longitudinal Research Team Study (the MyHeARTs Study) vol.11, pp.5, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0155447
  5. Are physical activity, sedentary behaviors and sleep duration associated with body mass index-for-age and health-related quality of life among high school boys and girls? vol.14, pp.1, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-016-0434-6
  6. Associations between parents' perception of neighbourhood environments and safety with physical activity of primary school children in Klang, Selangor, Malaysia vol.42, pp.4, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.12355
  7. Dietary and physical activity patterns related to cardio-metabolic health among Malaysian adolescents: a systematic review vol.19, pp.1, 2019, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-6557-z
  8. Socio-Demographic Factors and Body Image Perception Are Associated with BMI-For-Age among Children Living in Welfare Homes in Selangor, Malaysia vol.11, pp.1, 2019, https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11010142
  9. Association between self-reported physical activity and indicators of body composition in Malaysian adolescents vol.67, pp.None, 2012, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2014.07.001
  10. Evaluation of the Effectiveness of a 3-Year, Teacher-Led Healthy Lifestyle Program on Eating Behaviors Among Adolescents Living in Day School Hostels in Malaysia vol.39, pp.4, 2018, https://doi.org/10.1177/0379572118795358
  11. Development and Validation of a Physical Activity Educational Module for Overweight and Obese Adolescents: CERGAS Programme vol.16, pp.9, 2012, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16091506
  12. Association between Food Habits and Nutritional Status of Secondary School Students in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Baseline Findings from Nuteen Project vol.66, pp.suppl, 2012, https://doi.org/10.3177/jnsv.66.s256
  13. Association between Food Habits and Nutritional Status of Secondary School Students in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Baseline Findings from Nuteen Project vol.66, pp.suppl, 2012, https://doi.org/10.3177/jnsv.66.s256
  14. Malaysian adolescents’ perceptions of healthy eating: a qualitative study vol.23, pp.8, 2012, https://doi.org/10.1017/s1368980019003677
  15. Exploration on the Malaysian adolescents’ understanding towards concepts of physical activity, perceived facilitators and barriers in practising an active lifestyle vol.122, pp.10, 2012, https://doi.org/10.1108/bfj-01-2020-0049
  16. The longitudinal relationship between dietary intake, physical activity and muscle strength among adolescents vol.124, pp.11, 2012, https://doi.org/10.1017/s0007114520002202
  17. Impacts of a School-Based Intervention That Incorporates Nutrition Education and a Supportive Healthy School Canteen Environment among Primary School Children in Malaysia vol.13, pp.5, 2012, https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13051712
  18. Perceptions of eating practices and physical activity among Malaysian adolescents in secondary schools: a qualitative study with multi-stakeholders vol.24, pp.8, 2012, https://doi.org/10.1017/s1368980020002293