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The aim of this study was to compare physical activity prevalence estimates among the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), steps/day, and accelerometer in a sample of government employees in Kangar, Perlis, Malaysia. Ten government agencies in Kangar were randomly chosen, and all employees were invited to participate. A self-administered questionnaire was employed to obtain information on socio-demographic characteristics and a physical activity assessment using the IPAQ. Anthropometric measurements, which include measurements of weight, height, body mass index, percent body fat, waist and hip circumference, were carried out. An accelerometer was used to assess total daily energy expenditure and the number of steps/day. A total of 272 respondents were involved in this study with a response rate of 83.2%. According to IPAQ, accelerometer and steps/day, the majority of the respondents (22.0%, 55.1%, and 77.6%, respectively) were classified as sedentary. The agreement between physical activity level as determined by the accelerometer vs. the IPAQ (Kappa=-0.46 {95% Cl -0.384,-0.536}, p=0.238) and the IPAQ vs. steps/day (Kappa =0.037 {95% Cl 0.090,-0.016}, p=0.175) was not significant, but the agreement between physical activity level as determined by the accelerometer vs. steps/day was classified as fair (Kappa=0.296 (95% Cl 0.392, 0.200}, pO.001). Our study highlights the need for a valid, accurate, and reliable self-report physical activity assessment tool for Malaysian adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aimed to ascertain the effects of a Facebook-based physical activity intervention on improvements in step counts and metabolic syndrome. Methods: Government employees with metabolic syndrome were randomly assigned by cluster to the Facebook group (n = 44) or the control group (n = 103). All participants were asked to complete self-administered questionnaires at baseline, after the first and second phases. Data from anthropometric (weight, body mass index, fat mass, body fat percentage, waist circumference, hip circumference and waist-to-hip ratio), biochemical (total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides and fasting glucose) and clinical examinations (systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure) were collected. The number of steps per day was determined by a Lifecorder e- STEP accelerometer. Results: A significant difference in the number of steps per day between the baseline and the first phase (p<0.001) was observed in both the Facebook and control groups. A significant group main effect (p<0.001) was found for the number of steps per day; the Facebook group had a significantly greater increase in the number of steps per day than the control group. Overall, a significant strong to very strong correlation was found between the changes in the number of steps per day and the changes in the other variables. Conclusion: The Facebook-based intervention approach has the potential to increase physical activity among government employees with metabolic syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Breakfast skipping is an unhealthy eating behaviour reportedly common among adolescents. A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the differences in body weight status, socio-demographic, behavioural, and psychological characteristics between daily breakfast takers and breakfast skippers. Methods: Data were collected from form four students of four randomly selected secondary schools in Sibu, Sarawak using a self-administered questionnaire. Body weight and height were measured using standard procedures and BMI-for-age z-scores were determined. Results: A total of 375 students were recruited (male: 32.0%, female: 68.0%; Chinese: 39.5%, Iban: 26.4%, Malay: 17.1% and Melanau: 17.1 %; mean age = 16.45 ± 0.53 years). The prevalence rate of breakfast skippers at 40.3% was higher compared to the national prevalence of 32.7%. About 19.7% of the students were found to be at risk of eating disorders. In addition, the prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were 10.9% and 7.7%, respectively. Significant associations were found between breakfast skipping with sex, lunch skipping, dinner skipping, eating attitudes, and body weight status. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that female students and those who skipped lunch or dinner were more likely to skip breakfast. Conclusion: Breakfast skipping was quite common in this sample of adolescents in Sarawak. As frequent breakfast skipping has negative health and academic performance implications, increased nutrition education and health awareness campaigns on the importance of breakfast taking among school students should be undertaken. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: A cross-sectional study was carried out to investigate accelerometer-determined physical activity level of 233 Malay government employees (104 men, 129 women) working in the Federal Government Building Penang, Malaysia. Methods: Body weight, height, waist and hip circumference, body fat percentage and blood pressure were measured for each respondent. All the respondents were asked to wear an accelerometer for 3 days. Body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio (WHR) were calculated using a standard formulas. Fasting blood sample was obtained to determine the lipid profile and glucose levels of the respondents. Results: Based on the accelerometer-determined physical activity level, almost 65% of the respondents were categorised as sedentary. Approximately 50.2% of the respondents were overweight or obese. There were negative but significant relationships between body mass index (BMI) (r=-0.353, p<0.05), body fat percentage (r=-0.394, p<0.05), waist circumference (WC) (r=-0.198, p<0.05) and physical activity level. Sedentary individuals had a higher risk than moderate to active individuals of having a BMI more than or equal to 25 kg/m2 (OR= 2.80, 95% CI 1.55-5.05), an-risk classified WC (OR= 1.79, 95% CI 1.01-3.20), and a body fat percentage classified as unhealthy (OR= 3.01, 95% CI 1.41-6.44). Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that accelerometer-determined physical activity level is a significant factor associated with obesity in this study. The high prevalence of physical inactivity and obesity found among respondents of this study indicate a need for implementing intervention programmes among this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine physical activity, eating behaviour, body weight management knowledge, perception of body image and their association with body weight status of adolescents. Methods: Respondents were 360 adolescents, aged between 13 to 14 years, from six randomly selected secondary schools in Kuantan, Pahang. Physical activity, eating behaviour, body weight management knowledge and perception of body image were measured by the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C), Eating Attitude Test-26 (EAT-26), Weight Management Knowledge Inventory (WMKI) and Contour Drawing Rating Scale (CDRS), respectively. Results: Almost half of the respondents were categorised as having a normal BMI, while 30.3% were severely thin and thin and 20.3% were overweight and obese. Mean physical activity score was 2.06±0.45 with more males (35.0%) being physically active than females (17.3%). Mean eating behaviour score was 15.4±10.37, with 27.8% of the respondents being at-risk for eating disorders. Mean weight management knowledge score was 5.35±1.80, with more females (77.7%) having higher mean scores than males (42.3%). Further, mean discrepancy score for body image perception was 1.24±0.99, with 78.1% of the respondents being dissatisfied with their current body size. Positive associations were found between eating behaviour (r=0.28, p<0.05) and body image (r=0.35, p<0.05) with BMI. Respondents with high eating behaviour scores and body image discrepancy scores were more likely to have greater BMI. Conclusion: This study shows the need for healthy eating and body image intervention programmes to prevent overweight and obesity problems among adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study was conducted on 215 working women from four private corporate companies in a suburb in Malaysia to determine the factors related to their physical activity levels. Methods: Data were collected using a questionnaire which included socio-demographic characteristics, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), perceived barriers and benefits to physical activity, self-efficacy to physical activity and an 8-item questionnaire on current behavioral stage of physical activity. Results: The majority of the respondents were Malay (81.9%) with 10.2% being Chinese and 7.9% Indian. Most of the respondents were executives (64.2%), while the rest were non-executives (24.7%) and managers (11.2%). The mean weight, height, BMI and waist circumference were 59.4±13.1 kg, 1.6±0.6 m, 23.7±4.8 kg/m2 and 77.0±12.1cm respectively. In this sample, 24.7% and 7.9% were overweight and obese respectively, while 34% were at risk of abdominal obesity. A total of 28.8% of the respondents had low physical activity level, while 48.8% and 22.3% were in the moderate and high physical activity categories respectively. An association was found between monthly income (χ2=110.17; p<0.05) and current behavioral stage of physical activity (χ2=27.527; p<0.05) with physical activity, but no relationship was found between job category and physical activity category (χ2=8.940; p>0.05). Physical activity category was also positively correlated with perceived barriers (r=0.227, p<0.05) and benefits to physical activity (r=0.280, p<0.05). However, physical activity was not associated with self-efficacy to physical activity. Conclusion: In this sample of working women, socio-demographic and psychosocial factors (except self-efficacy to physical activity) were found to have an association with physical activity level of the respondents. Further studies should be conducted to confirm these findings in the general working women population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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.