Associations of eating behaviours, fast food purchasing and availability with BMI-for-age z-score among adolescents in Labuan, Malaysia
https://doi.org/10.31246/mjn-2020-0026
- Author:
Ho Shu Fen
1
;
Chin Yit Siew
1
,
2
;
Abdul Rashid Bin Mohamed Shariff
3
,
4
;
Lim Poh Ying
5
Author Information
1. Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia&
2. Research Centre of Excellence, Nutrition and Non-Communicable Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
3. Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia&
4. Institution of Geospatial and Remote Sensing Malaysia (IGRSM)
5. Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Obesity, adolescents, household income, fast-food, GIS
- From:
Malaysian Journal of Nutrition
2021;27(No.1):107-122
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Introduction: A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the associations
of socio-demographic factors, eating behaviours, fast food purchasing by parents for
family meals, and availability of neighbourhood fast-food outlets with BMI-for-age
z-score (BAZ) among adolescents. Methods: Through multi-stage stratified cluster
sampling method, a total of 420 adolescents from five selected public secondary
schools participated in the current study. Data on socio-demographic factors,
eating behaviours, and parent’s purchases of fast food were obtained through selfadministered questionnaires. The availability of fast-food outlets was assessed using
Geographic Information System (GIS). Body weight and height of the adolescents
were measured. Results: The prevalence of overweight, obesity, thinness and
severe thinness among adolescents in the present study were 17.6%, 15.5%,
3.1% and 0.7%, respectively. The current findings showed that a higher monthly
household income (rs
=0.12, p=0.02) and less purchases of fast food by parents for
family meals (rs
=-0.11, p=0.03) were significantly associated with higher BAZ of the
adolescents. However, there were no significant associations between eating outside
of home, eating at fast-food restaurants, buying delivery fast food, and availability
of neighbourhood fast-food outlets with BAZ. Multiple linear regression showed that
less purchases of fast food by parents for family meals significantly contributed
towards higher BAZ (β=−0.25, p=0.02). Conclusion: A higher household income and
less fast food purchasing by parents were associated with higher BAZ. Fast food
purchasing of adolescents were not associated with BAZ. Therefore, an appropriate
obesity intervention programme should focus on adolescents and their parents from
middle- and high-income households in Labuan.
- Full text:4.2021my0528.pdf
