Breakfast Skipping and Its Associated Factors among Undergraduates in a Public University in Kuala Lumpur
- Author:
Moy FM
;
Johari S
;
Ismail Y
;
Mahad R
;
Tie FH
;
Wan Ismail WMA
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Breakfast skipping, undergraduates
- From:
Malaysian Journal of Nutrition
2009;15(2):165-174
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in a public university in Kuala
Lumpur among a random sample of 2665 undergraduates. The objective was to
study the prevalence of breakfast skipping and its associated factors. Data
collection was conducted via a self-administered pre-tested questionnaire. There
were 43.5% male respondents, with Malays being the majority (58.3%). The
prevalence of breakfast skipping was 29.2 (95% CI: 27.3 – 30.3) %. The factors
significantly associated with breakfast skipping (p<0.05) were age, race,
accommodation, faculty and skipping dinner. As the respondents’ age increased,
their risk of breakfast skipping was lower (OR: 0.95; 0.89 – 0.99). Malays (OR:
1.94; 1.48 – 2.54), Indians (OR: 1.70; 1.08 – 2.66), and students from the Sabah and
Sarawak indigenous communities (OR: 2.13; 1.37 – 3.33) were more likely to skip
breakfast compared to their Chinese counterparts. Respondents who stayed in
their own houses were also less likely to skip breakfast compared to those
staying in hostel with meals catered (OR: 2.32; 1.39 – 3.84), hostel with cafeteria
(OR: 2.92; 1.74 – 4.91) or in rented houses (OR: 2.08; 1.25 – 3.46). Respondents
majoring in Arts & Economics had 1.40 (1.07 – 1.82) times risk of breakfast
skipping compared to those majoring in Life Sciences. Those who skipped dinner
too had twice the odds (1.47 – 2.77) of breakfast skipping. In conclusion the
prevalence of breakfast skipping among the undergraduates of this university
was moderately high. Health awareness campaigns or introduction of healthy
eating guidelines should be initiated for the undergraduates as well as food
caterers in campus. The policy and pricing of catered food in campus should also
be reviewed.
- Full text:W020150713326961276040.pdf
