1.Associations of eating behaviours, fast food purchasing and availability with BMI-for-age z-score among adolescents in Labuan, Malaysia
Ho Shu Fen ; Chin Yit Siew ; Abdul Rashid Bin Mohamed Shariff ; Lim Poh Ying
Malaysian Journal of Nutrition 2021;27(No.1):107-122
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			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.
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
            

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