1.Factors Associated with Diet Quality during COVID-19 Pandemic among Undergraduate Students in Universiti Putra Malaysia
Noraida Omar ; Dalina Puteri Aripin
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2023;19(No.4):247-257
		                        		
		                        			
		                        			Introduction: The COVID-19 preventive and restriction measures may disrupt an individual’s daily diet quality, potentially leading to obesity and other non-communicable diseases. This study aims to assess and determine factors 
associated with diet quality during the COVID-19 pandemic among undergraduate students at Universiti Putra Malaysia. Methods: 130 eligible undergraduate students, who participated in this cross-sectional study were assessed 
using Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ), Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS-21), and Rapid Eating 
Assessment for Participants short version (REAP-S). Self-reported sociodemographic characteristics, body weight 
status, and nutrition knowledge were evaluated. Statistical analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS 26.0 and p<0.05 
was denoted as statistically significant. Results: Most of the respondents were female (76.2%), aged between 20-22 
years old (64.6%), Bumiputera (80.0%), funded by loan or scholarship (73.1%), low socioeconomic status (60.0%), 
residing in the family household (57.7%), consumed home-cooked meals (58.5%), and used the e-hailing food services for 0-3 days/week (63.1%). There was an equal distribution in the year and program of study in every selected 
faculty. Most were having normal BMI status (54.6%), good nutrition knowledge (66.9%), sedentary (48.5%), less 
severe mental health status (85.4%), and good diet quality (62.3%). Nonetheless, throughout the study, only the 
anxiety subscale was associated with diet quality (r= -0.20, p<0.05). Conclusion: Perceived anxiety may lead to poor 
diet quality. Future studies could determine the food environment and food security faced by the students as these 
factors vary among individuals. It is also recommended to measure diet quality differences before, during, or after 
the pandemic. 
		                        		
		                        		
		                        		
		                        	
            

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