Differences in eating behaviours, dietary intake and body weight status between male and female Malaysian university students
Introduction: University students are potentially important targets for the promotion of healthy lifestyles as this may reduce the risks of lifestyle-related disorders later in life. This cross-sectional study examined differences in eating behaviours, dietary intake, weight status, and body composi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nutrition Society of Malaysia
2011
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| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/40401/1/Differences%20in%20eating%20behaviours%2C%20dietary%20intake%20and%20body%20weight%20status%20between%20male%20and%20female%20Malaysian%20university%20students.pdf |
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| author | Gan, Wan Ying Mohd Taib, Mohd Nasir Mohd Shariff, Zalilah Abu Saad, Hazizi |
| author_facet | Gan, Wan Ying Mohd Taib, Mohd Nasir Mohd Shariff, Zalilah Abu Saad, Hazizi |
| author_sort | Gan, Wan Ying |
| collection | UPM |
| description | Introduction: University students are potentially important targets for the promotion of healthy lifestyles as this may reduce the risks of lifestyle-related disorders later in life. This cross-sectional study examined differences in eating behaviours, dietary intake, weight status, and body composition between male and female university students. Methodology: A total of 584 students (59.4% females and 40.6% males) aged 20.6±1.4 years from four Malaysian universities in the Klang Valley participated in this study. Participants completed the Eating Behaviours Questionnaire and two-day 24-hour dietary recall. Body weight, height, waist circumference and percentage of body fat were measured. Results: About 14.3% of males and 22.4% of females were underweight, while 14.0% of males and 12.3% of females were overweight and obese. A majority of the participants (73.8% males and 74.6% females) skipped at least one meal daily in the past seven days. Breakfast was the most frequently skipped meal. Both males and females frequently snacked during morning tea time. Fruits and biscuits were the most frequently consumed snack items. More than half of the participants did not meet the Malaysian Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) for energy, vitamin C, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, iron (females only), and calcium. Significantly more males than females achieved the RNI levels for energy, protein and iron intakes. Conclusion: This study highlights the presence of unhealthy eating behaviours, inadequate nutrient intake, and a high prevalence of underweight among university students. Energy and nutrient intakes differed between the sexes. Therefore, promoting healthy eating among young adults is crucial to achieve a healthy nutritional status. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-06T08:46:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | upm.eprints-40401 |
| institution | Universiti Putra Malaysia |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-06T08:46:58Z |
| publishDate | 2011 |
| publisher | Nutrition Society of Malaysia |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | upm.eprints-404012015-09-18T00:45:53Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/40401/ Differences in eating behaviours, dietary intake and body weight status between male and female Malaysian university students Gan, Wan Ying Mohd Taib, Mohd Nasir Mohd Shariff, Zalilah Abu Saad, Hazizi Introduction: University students are potentially important targets for the promotion of healthy lifestyles as this may reduce the risks of lifestyle-related disorders later in life. This cross-sectional study examined differences in eating behaviours, dietary intake, weight status, and body composition between male and female university students. Methodology: A total of 584 students (59.4% females and 40.6% males) aged 20.6±1.4 years from four Malaysian universities in the Klang Valley participated in this study. Participants completed the Eating Behaviours Questionnaire and two-day 24-hour dietary recall. Body weight, height, waist circumference and percentage of body fat were measured. Results: About 14.3% of males and 22.4% of females were underweight, while 14.0% of males and 12.3% of females were overweight and obese. A majority of the participants (73.8% males and 74.6% females) skipped at least one meal daily in the past seven days. Breakfast was the most frequently skipped meal. Both males and females frequently snacked during morning tea time. Fruits and biscuits were the most frequently consumed snack items. More than half of the participants did not meet the Malaysian Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) for energy, vitamin C, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, iron (females only), and calcium. Significantly more males than females achieved the RNI levels for energy, protein and iron intakes. Conclusion: This study highlights the presence of unhealthy eating behaviours, inadequate nutrient intake, and a high prevalence of underweight among university students. Energy and nutrient intakes differed between the sexes. Therefore, promoting healthy eating among young adults is crucial to achieve a healthy nutritional status. Nutrition Society of Malaysia 2011 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/40401/1/Differences%20in%20eating%20behaviours%2C%20dietary%20intake%20and%20body%20weight%20status%20between%20male%20and%20female%20Malaysian%20university%20students.pdf Gan, Wan Ying and Mohd Taib, Mohd Nasir and Mohd Shariff, Zalilah and Abu Saad, Hazizi (2011) Differences in eating behaviours, dietary intake and body weight status between male and female Malaysian university students. Malaysian Journal of Nutrition, 17 (2). pp. 213-228. ISSN 1394-035X http://nutriweb.org.my/publications/mjn0017_2/Gan%20_295RV-7.php |
| spellingShingle | Gan, Wan Ying Mohd Taib, Mohd Nasir Mohd Shariff, Zalilah Abu Saad, Hazizi Differences in eating behaviours, dietary intake and body weight status between male and female Malaysian university students |
| title | Differences in eating behaviours, dietary intake and body weight status between male and female Malaysian university students |
| title_full | Differences in eating behaviours, dietary intake and body weight status between male and female Malaysian university students |
| title_fullStr | Differences in eating behaviours, dietary intake and body weight status between male and female Malaysian university students |
| title_full_unstemmed | Differences in eating behaviours, dietary intake and body weight status between male and female Malaysian university students |
| title_short | Differences in eating behaviours, dietary intake and body weight status between male and female Malaysian university students |
| title_sort | differences in eating behaviours dietary intake and body weight status between male and female malaysian university students |
| url | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/40401/1/Differences%20in%20eating%20behaviours%2C%20dietary%20intake%20and%20body%20weight%20status%20between%20male%20and%20female%20Malaysian%20university%20students.pdf |
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