A significant concern about body weight and shape is the pathognomonic feature of eating disorders. According to the cognitive view, ideation and belief component is the primary cause for the development and maintenance of eating disorders. Higher psychiatric morbidity and psychological stress increases the development of eating disorders. This study was conducted to examine whether there is a relationship between psychological stress and cognitive aspect of eating, and between secondary and tertiary students. A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine beliefs about weight and shape concerns among secondary and tertiary level students. A total of 1253 students consisting of 13-18 years old secondary school students and 19-24 years old medical students were involved in this study. The students completed a questionnaire assessing psychopathology on beliefs and attitudes towards weight and shape and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-30). The results indicate a high prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among university students compared to secondary students. Year 1 medical students appear to have a higher frequency of psychiatric morbidity (53.9%) than year 4 medical students (28.4%). Eating beliefs relating to weight and shape were significantly higher in secondary school students than medical students. The results of multiple linear regression on the eating belief questionnaire were a significant predictor of psychiatric morbidity. Higher GHQ scores were negatively related to eating belief question 28 of bulimic component. It would be useful to conduct future studies to explore the possible causal factors for weight and shape concerns among secondary school students and higher psychiatric morbidity among medical students in Kelantan.
seconds ; morbidity aspects ; Students, Medical ; Weight ; secondary school student

Overweight and obesity place children and adolescents at increased risk of significant health problems, both during their early life and adult life. A crosssectional study was carried out to determine the prevalence of overweight among secondary school students aged 13-17 years in the Klang district and to determine the association between overweight and age, sex, ethnicity, religion and blood pressure. Random cluster proportionate to size sampling technique was used to select the respondents. Weight was recorded using TANITA model HD-309 and height was measured using SECA Body meter Model 208. A mercury sphygmomanometer was used to measure blood pressure manually. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS version 13. Out of the 3,333 respondents, 11.4% were found to be at risk of overweight and 8.2% were overweight. The prevalence of overweight was significantly higher in the males (10.6%) as compared to females (6.0%). Prevalence of overweight was highest in Malays (10.7%) followed by the Indians (7.1%) and the Chinese (5.9%). Prevalence of ‘risk of overweight’ was highest in the Indians (13.7%) followed by Chinese (12.0%) and Malays (9.8%). There was a moderate direct significant relationship between overweight and systolic blood pressure (r=0.5, r2=0.25, p<0.001) and also diastolic blood pressure (r=0.42, r2=0.18, p<0.001). The relationship between BMI and overweight was very weak (r=0.11, r2=0.01 and df=3331, p<0.001). In conclusion the prevalence of overweight among the secondary school students is high and there is a need for a comprehensive integrated population-based intervention program.
Obesity ; secondary school student ; seconds ; Statistical Prevalence ; Blood Pressure