Relationship of self-regulation and lifestyle behaviour with overweight among male and female adolescents in Selangor
https://doi.org/10.31246/mjn-2020-0095
- Author:
Anu Suria Ganason
1
;
Noor Azimah Muhammad
2
;
Gunenthira Rao
3
;
Hizlinda Tohid
2
;
Majmin Sheikh Hamzah
2
;
Khairani Omar
4
Author Information
1. Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
2. Department of Family Medicine, University Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
3. Health Department of Pulau Pinang, Georgetown, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
4. Management and Science University, Shah Alam Selangor
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:
Malaysian Journal of Nutrition
2022;28(No.3):395-408
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Introduction: The ability of a person to self-regulate and practise healthy lifestyle
behaviours determine one’s weight status. The objective of this study was to
determine the relationship of self-regulation, dietary practices, and physical activity
with overweight status among male and female adolescents. Methods: This crosssectional study used multistage cluster sampling involving government secondary
school students aged between 13 and 14 years old in Hulu Langat, Selangor.
Students answered a validated self-administered questionnaire comprising
socio-demography, dietary practices, physical activity, and self-regulation items.
Their body mass index (BMI) was calculated, and weight status was determined
using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) BMI chart. Results:
Among 636 students, 27.0% were “overweight”, affecting more male than female
students (p=0.032). Majority of them (96.7%) were motivated to maintain healthy
body weight, but only a third of the students took vegetables, fruits and grains
(32.4%), and performed vigorous physical activity (31.1%) regularly. Regardless of
the “overweight” status, there were no significant differences in dietary practices,
physical activity, and autonomous regulation for both genders. Female students
showed a higher level of controlled regulation than male students in non-overweight
(p=0.005) and overweight (p<0.001) groups. Higher controlled regulation increased
the odds of being overweight among female students (AOR=1.04, 95% CI=1.04-1.08,
p=0.010). Conclusion: Thus, health authorities need to develop programmes to
assist, particularly female students, in practising higher autonomous regulation
to combat overweight and obesity, as this group exhibits a high level of controlled
regulation, which increases the likelihood of being overweight.
- Full text:4.2022my0593.pdf
