Influence of eating behaviours and psychosocial factors on overweight and obesity among medical students in a public university in Malaysia

Background: Obesity and overweight is one of the global health problems nowadays. The number of overweight and obese male and female in Malaysia age 18 years and older has increased from 1996 to 2006. This study aimed to determine the eating behaviours and psychosocial factors influencing the preva...

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Main Authors: Mohd Zulkefli, Nor Afiah, Ismail, Suriani, Mohammad Sapian, Abdul Hakim, R., Simmadorai, Mohd Nasir, Nor Shahida Akhma
Format: Article
Published: Community Health Society Malaysia 2014
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/34186/
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author Mohd Zulkefli, Nor Afiah
Ismail, Suriani
Mohammad Sapian, Abdul Hakim
R., Simmadorai
Mohd Nasir, Nor Shahida Akhma
author_facet Mohd Zulkefli, Nor Afiah
Ismail, Suriani
Mohammad Sapian, Abdul Hakim
R., Simmadorai
Mohd Nasir, Nor Shahida Akhma
author_sort Mohd Zulkefli, Nor Afiah
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Background: Obesity and overweight is one of the global health problems nowadays. The number of overweight and obese male and female in Malaysia age 18 years and older has increased from 1996 to 2006. This study aimed to determine the eating behaviours and psychosocial factors influencing the prevalence of overweight and obesity among medical students in a public university in Malaysia. Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out on 211 medical students selected through simple random sampling in 2014. Their body weight and height were measured, and a validated self- administered questionnaire was used to collect information on the Body Mass Index, socio demographic factors, eating behaviours and psychosocial factors. Data was analysed using SPSS version 21. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity among respondents was 16.6% and 3.8% respectively. The results indicated that there were signification associations between race (χ2=11.838; p = 0.001), religion (χ2=10.989; p = 0.001), and alcohol consumption (χ2 = 4.641; p = 0.031) with overweight and obesity. Conclusions: Prevalence of overweight and obesity was 20.4%. Race, religion and alcohol consumptions were associated with overweight and obesity. Therefore there is a need to address the influence factors on overweight and obesity among medical students in this public university in Malaysia.
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spelling upm-341862015-12-09T00:50:25Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/34186/ Influence of eating behaviours and psychosocial factors on overweight and obesity among medical students in a public university in Malaysia Mohd Zulkefli, Nor Afiah Ismail, Suriani Mohammad Sapian, Abdul Hakim R., Simmadorai Mohd Nasir, Nor Shahida Akhma Background: Obesity and overweight is one of the global health problems nowadays. The number of overweight and obese male and female in Malaysia age 18 years and older has increased from 1996 to 2006. This study aimed to determine the eating behaviours and psychosocial factors influencing the prevalence of overweight and obesity among medical students in a public university in Malaysia. Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out on 211 medical students selected through simple random sampling in 2014. Their body weight and height were measured, and a validated self- administered questionnaire was used to collect information on the Body Mass Index, socio demographic factors, eating behaviours and psychosocial factors. Data was analysed using SPSS version 21. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity among respondents was 16.6% and 3.8% respectively. The results indicated that there were signification associations between race (χ2=11.838; p = 0.001), religion (χ2=10.989; p = 0.001), and alcohol consumption (χ2 = 4.641; p = 0.031) with overweight and obesity. Conclusions: Prevalence of overweight and obesity was 20.4%. Race, religion and alcohol consumptions were associated with overweight and obesity. Therefore there is a need to address the influence factors on overweight and obesity among medical students in this public university in Malaysia. Community Health Society Malaysia 2014 Article PeerReviewed Mohd Zulkefli, Nor Afiah and Ismail, Suriani and Mohammad Sapian, Abdul Hakim and R., Simmadorai and Mohd Nasir, Nor Shahida Akhma (2014) Influence of eating behaviours and psychosocial factors on overweight and obesity among medical students in a public university in Malaysia. International Journal of Public Health and Clinical Sciences, 1 (1). pp. 151-159. ISSN 2289-7577 http://publichealthmy.org/ejournal/ojs2/index.php/ijphcs/article/view/77
spellingShingle Mohd Zulkefli, Nor Afiah
Ismail, Suriani
Mohammad Sapian, Abdul Hakim
R., Simmadorai
Mohd Nasir, Nor Shahida Akhma
Influence of eating behaviours and psychosocial factors on overweight and obesity among medical students in a public university in Malaysia
title Influence of eating behaviours and psychosocial factors on overweight and obesity among medical students in a public university in Malaysia
title_full Influence of eating behaviours and psychosocial factors on overweight and obesity among medical students in a public university in Malaysia
title_fullStr Influence of eating behaviours and psychosocial factors on overweight and obesity among medical students in a public university in Malaysia
title_full_unstemmed Influence of eating behaviours and psychosocial factors on overweight and obesity among medical students in a public university in Malaysia
title_short Influence of eating behaviours and psychosocial factors on overweight and obesity among medical students in a public university in Malaysia
title_sort influence of eating behaviours and psychosocial factors on overweight and obesity among medical students in a public university in malaysia
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/34186/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/34186/