Introduction: Sugar is widely consumed and excessive intake has been associated with increased risk of weight gain, diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases, leading to metabolic syndrome (MetSyn). However, the association between sugar intake and MetSyn has seldom been studied among multi-ethnic Malaysian older adults. Methods: A total of 1,057 respondents aged ≥60 years were recruited through multistage random sampling from selected states. Anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, blood test for sugar and lipid profile were determined. Dietary intake was derived using a 7-day dietary history questionnaire (DHQ) and a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for added sugar intake. Results: Prevalence of MetSyn was 39.9%, 30.9% and 42.2% using the harmonised definition, International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and National Cholesterol Education Program’s Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATPIII) definitions respectively. Mean total sugar intake was 40.5±32.0 g (8 tsp) and added sugar intake was 33.0±31.0 g (6 tsp). Excessive added sugar consumption at 100th percentile increased risks of high total cholesterol by two-fold (p<0.001) and triglyceride by 1.8 fold (p<0.001). Total sugar intake at 50th percentile increased risk of high blood pressure by 0.68 fold (p<0.05) and total sugar intake at 50th, 75th and 100th percentile increased total cholesterol risk by 1.7 fold (p<0.01), 1.5 fold (p<0.05) and 2.3 fold (p<0.001) respectively. Conclusion: Excessive sugar consumption among older adults showed no association with MetSyn but revealed significant associations with blood pressure and lipid profiles. Effects of long term excessive consumption of sugar on health outcomes in older persons should be investigated.

Aging is associated with increased risk of frailty and malnutrition. However, food insecurity has rarely been highlighted in the elderly population, especially among the low income group. Thus, a cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the association between nutritional status, food insecurity and frailty among elderly in low income residences in Klang Valley. A total of 72 elderly individuals aged 60 years and above was selected (mean age 66 ± 6 years) through convenient sampling. Participants were interviewed to obtain information on socio-demographic, health status, food insecurity and cognitive status. Anthropometrics parameters and frailty assessments was measured using standard criteria. Results showed that 75.0% of the participants had abdominal obesity. Nearly half of the participants were overweight (41.7%), followed by normal (43.0%) and underweight (15.3%). With respect to food insecurity, most of them reported that they had enough food (93.1%). There were significant correlation (p < 0.05) between food insecurity with height (r = -0.263, p = 0.026). Most of the participants were pre-frail (58.3%), frail (27.8%) and followed by non-frail (13.9%). Calcium intake is inversely associated with frailty (t = -2.62, p = 0.011). In conclusion, food insecurity was not a problem, however, half of the subjects were overweight and pre-frail. Three out four subjects had abdominal obesity. There is a need to investigate further the pathogenesis of fat frail in this low income elderly population and formulate effective intervention strategies.
Aged ; Income

Body mass index (BMI) was one of the reasons people used weight loss products to lose weight. The purpose of this study is to look into the use of weight loss products and their relationship to BMI and associated factors. A cross-sectional study with convenient sampling was conducted on 133 students from Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian (USMKK) Health Campus. Participants were asked to complete an online questionnaire that included sociodemographic information, self-reported weight and height for BMI, weight loss product use, weight loss product usage characteristics, body weight perception and satisfaction, and weight loss product perception. The majority of participants were female (78.2%), 80.5% were Malay, and the mean age was 22 ± 3.1 years old. Majority had a normal BMI (56.4%), whereas 16.5% were underweight, 18.8% were overweight, and 8.3% were obese. Nevertheless, only 10.5% of participants utilised weight loss products. It was discovered that the use of weight loss products is statistically associated with BMI, with a high proportion of users having an overweight or obese BMI (p=0.042). Those who reported using a weight loss product had a higher BMI [25.56 (IQR 6.6) kg/m2 ] than those who did not [21.35 (IQR 5.3) kg/m2 ] (p = 0.015). The use of weight loss products was also statistically associated with perceived product safety (p=0.041) and body weight dissatisfaction (p=0.011). Universities should therefore provide students with appropriate weight loss advice, up-todate information on the safety and efficacy of various weight loss products, and opportunities to enhance their knowledge, self-efficacy, and social support. For future research, it is suggested to wider the research population to overweight and obese adults in Kelantan.