Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 108 in total

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  1. Unhealthy diet practice and symptoms of stress and depression among adolescents in Pasir Gudang, Malaysia
    Tajik E, Latiffah AL, Awang H, Siti Nur'Asyura A, Chin YS, Azrin Shah AB, et al.
    Obes Res Clin Pract, 2016 Mar-Apr;10(2):114-23.
    PMID: 26204813 DOI: 10.1016/j.orcp.2015.06.001
    BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Missing main meals and an unhealthy snacking pattern can lead to poor diet quality and consequently to the presence of chronic diseases among which mental disorder is no exception. Since there is little research on diet, skipping meals and psychological status in Asian countries, this study tries to determine eating behaviour and predicting symptoms of stress and depression of adolescents in Pasir Gudang, Malaysia.

    SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among Form 1 secondary school-going adolescents (n 1565, response rate: 90%) in southern Malaysia from April to May 2013. A self-administered structured and validated questionnaire (socio-demographic, eating behaviour questionnaire, and depression, anxiety and stress scales (DASS-21)) was used for data collection.

    RESULTS: Among respondents, 803 (51.3%) were female, 1125 were Malay (71.9%) with a mean age of 13.7 (SD=0.8) years. Logistic regression analysis indicated that students who were underweight (OR=3.07, 95% CI 1.21, 7.76), obese (OR=2.64, 95% CI 1.01, 6.87), used to eat out of home (OR=1.37, 95% CI 1.28, 2.13), eat dinner (>4 days/week) (OR=1.59, 95% CI 1.04, 2.43) were more likely to have depression or stress symptoms. Moreover, participants with 4-7 days/week eating breakfast (OR=0.88, 95% CI 0.21, 0.89) were less likely to be at mild/moderate stress.

    CONCLUSIONS: Findings underscore the effect of unhealthy eating practices among adolescents on mental health. Targeted education should be implemented to improve psychological well-being.
    Matched MeSH terms: Thinness/complications; Thinness/psychology
  2. Fulltext Unhealthy Dietary Patterns and Their Associations with Sociodemographic Factors as Predictors among Underweight and Overweight Adolescents in Southern Thailand
    Kunset P, Punsawad C, Petsirasan R, Suwanbamrung C, Shohaimi S, Narkkul U, et al.
    Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2023 Sep 01;20(17).
    PMID: 37681843 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20176703
    (1) Background: Adolescence is a critical developmental phase; dietary intake and nutritional status significantly impact health outcomes. (2) Objective: This cross-sectional study investigated dietary patterns (DPs) and the association between sociodemographic factors and unhealthy DPs among adolescents in Thailand. (3) Methods: A multi-stage sampling selected 1480 participants from three public high schools in Nakhon Si Thammarat province. A food frequency questionnaire assessed dietary habits, and principal component analysis was used to identify DPs. Multinomial logistic regression examined the association between sociodemographic factors and DPs. (4) Results: The findings show that 25.9% of adolescents were underweight, 14.7% were overweight, and 5.8% were obese. Three DPs were identified: a healthy 'protein and vegetables' pattern and two unhealthy patterns: 'snacks' and 'processed foods', which explained 12.49%, 10.37%, and 7.07% of the dietary variance, respectively. Among underweight adolescents, higher snack consumption was associated with being younger (odds ratio (OR) = 3.24) and receiving a higher daily allowance (OR = 3.43). Additionally, female adolescents who engaged in frequent exercise had a 2.15 times higher intake of processed foods. Among overweight adolescents, higher snack intake was linked to being younger (OR = 8.65) and having larger families (OR = 6.37). Moreover, an increased daily allowance was associated with higher consumption of processed foods (OR = 11.47). (5) Conclusion: This study underscores the socio-demographic influence on unhealthy DPs. Insights can guide targeted interventions to foster healthier dietary habits during adolescence.
    Matched MeSH terms: Thinness/epidemiology
  3. Fulltext Underweight, overweight, and tobacco use among adolescents aged 12-15 years: Evidence from 23 low-income and middle-income countries
    Wang Q
    Tob Induc Dis, 2021;19:37.
    PMID: 34017231 DOI: 10.18332/tid/133932
    INTRODUCTION: Compared with the number of studies in adults, body weight in relation to tobacco use has been understudied in the adolescent population. This study aimed to examine the association between underweight, overweight and tobacco use in low- and middle-income countries.

    METHODS: Data were derived from the Global School-Based Student Health Survey (GSHS). Data from 71176 adolescents aged 12-15 years residing in 23 countries were analyzed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2000 growth charts were used to identify underweight, normal weight, and overweight/ obesity. Weighted age- and gender-adjusted prevalence of weight categories and tobacco use was calculated. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the association between weight categories and tobacco use for each country, controlling for covariates. Pooled odds ratios and confidence intervals were computed using random- or fixed-effects meta-analyses.

    RESULTS: A significant association between weight categories and tobacco use was evident in only a few countries. Adolescents reporting tobacco use in French Polynesia, Suriname, and Indonesia, had 72% (95% CI: 0.15-0.56), 55% (95% CI: 0.24-0.84), and 24% (95% CI: 0.61-0.94) lower odds of being underweight, respectively. Adolescents reporting tobacco use in Uganda, Algeria, and Namibia, had 2.30 (95% CI: 1.04-5.09), 1.71 (95% CI: 1.25-2.34), and 1.45 (95% CI: 1.00-2.12) times greater odds of being overweight/obese, but those in Indonesia and Malaysia had 33% (95% CI: 0.50-0.91) and 16% (95% CI: 0.73-0.98) lower odds of being overweight/obese.

    CONCLUSIONS: The association between tobacco use and BMI categories is likely to be different among adolescents versus adults. Associating tobacco use with being thin may be more myth than fact and should be emphasized in tobacco prevention programs targeting adolescents.

    Matched MeSH terms: Thinness
  4. Total nucleated cell count and cd34+ cell is reduced in preeclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus pregnancies: viable affix criteria for cord blood banking
    Mohd Razif Mohd Idris, Fazlina Nordin, Fadilah Abd Wahid S, Zaleha Abdullah Mahdy
    Sains Malaysiana, 2018;47:2491-2499.
    The aim of this study to determine the numbers of CD34+ cells and total nucleated cell (TNC) in umbilical cord blood (UCB)
    collected from pregnant mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and preeclampsia (PE), following statistical
    analysis of both maternal and perinatal factors which affect UCB parameters. Most of studies explored the influence of
    obstetric factors on the number of UCB cell collection and only a few looked at the effects on UCB haematopoietic stem
    cell (UCB-HSC) of common disorders complicating pregnancy. A total of 112 UCB samples (32 PE, 42 GDM and 38 nondiseased) were collected. CD34+ cell and NC count were enumerated using FACS Calibur. The TNC and CD34+ cells were
    significantly reduced in both PE and GDM groups as compared to the control group. The PE group shows significantly
    lower birth weight and higher BP which led to a lower UCB volume and CD34+ count. Gestational age shows significant
    correlation with nucleated cell count (NCC) and TNC. GDM group shows significantly lower systolic BP, NCC and TNC count,
    including low placental weight and birth weight. Conclusively, some obstetrics factors have significant influences to the
    numbers and quality of UCB-HSC in both PE and GDM groups, which could guide in the selection criteria for CB banking.
    Matched MeSH terms: Thinness
  5. Fulltext The prevalence of undernutrition upon hospitalization in children in a developing country: A single hospital study from Malaysia
    Lee WS, Ahmad Z
    Pediatr Neonatol, 2017 10;58(5):415-420.
    PMID: 28330630 DOI: 10.1016/j.pedneo.2016.08.010
    BACKGROUND: Undernourished children who require hospital care have a longer duration of hospitalization and respond poorly to modern medical therapy. The objective of the present study was to ascertain the nutritional status of children admitted to a pediatric tertiary center in Malaysia and the risk factors leading to undernutrition upon admission.

    METHODS: In this cross-sectional, hospital-based study, anthropometric measurements [weight, length/height, mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC), triceps skinfold thickness were performed in 285 children aged from 3 months to 15 years who were admitted to University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur in November 2013. Acute (wasting) and chronic (stunting) undernutrition were defined as weight-for-height (WFH) and height-for-age (HFA) < -2 standard deviation (S.D.), respectively. Underweight was defined as weight-for-age < -2 S.D. For children aged between 1 and 5 years of age, World Health Organization definition for acute undernutrition (HFA 

    Matched MeSH terms: Thinness/epidemiology*
  6. Fulltext The prevalence and risk factors of malnutrition among primary one school children in Tumpat and Bachok, Kelantan
    Che Asiah, T., Zulkifli, A., Mohd Hashim, M.H., Halim, S.
    Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2004;4(1):66-71.
    MyJurnal
    A cross-sectional study to determine the prevalence of malnutrition and some associated factors among primary one schoolchildren, aged 7 years from rural areas of Tumpat and Bachok in Kelantan was carried out. A total of 922 chiMren from 18 primary schools were examined. The parents completed self-administered questionnaires eliciting demographic and socio-economic information. The weight and height of each child was taken. The nutritional status was assessed by the z-scores of weight-for-age (WAZ) , height- or-age (HAZ) and weight-for-height (WHZ). The prevalence of underweight was 25 .2% , stunting was 21 .1% and wasting was 6 .2%. Less than 1 .0% ofthe children were overweight. Risk factors of underweight were lueinga male (OR=l .4),
    having an unemployed father (OR=2 .6) and a monthly family income of RM 251 -500 (OR=2 .0) . Being a male (OR=1 .6) was the only risk factor for stunning and working mother (OR=2 .0) was the only risk factor of wasting. In conclusion, there is still a high prevalence of undemutrition among primary one schoolchildren in rural areas of Tumpat and Bachok. This may be due to the poor socioeconomic status of the rural community and the lack of emphasis ofthe supplementary feeding program on the late preschool children. A comprehensive nutrition support program is essential, especially targeting the preschool children in these rural communities
    Matched MeSH terms: Thinness
  7. Fulltext The nutritional status of Malay children in Kampung Jenderam Hilir, Sepang District, Selangor
    Lekhraj Rampal, G.R., Wong, C.H.
    Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2003;3(2):14-18.
    MyJurnal
    This is a cross»sectional study to determine the nutritional status of Malay children aged 6 to 10 years in Kampongknderam Hilir. A cross sectional study design was used.All households were included in the study. All the 218 Malaysian children aged 6 to 10 years in Kamponglenderam Hilir were included in the study. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used to collect the data.
    Data were analyzed by using Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) version 10. The minority of the chihlren were within normal range for weight·for-age, normal height for age status and weight for height status. However in small proportion of children, there was a persistence of protein·energy malnutrition problems. Overall 11% were underweight. There was no significant difference in the prevalence ofunderweight between males and females. The prevalence of overweight and stunting was 5 .3% and 11 .5%. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of sturtting in male compared to females. Although stunting was prevalent in all age groups (4.4% to 19.6%) a significant higher prevalence was observed in the age group 9 - 9.9 years compared to other age groups (p< 0.05). Wasting was present in 7.6% of the respondents. The 6 - 6.9 years age group had the highest wasting prevalence compared to other age groups. The prevalence of wasting was significantly higher in males. ln conclusion the overall nutritional status of children aged 6 to 10 years old in Kampong]enderam Hilir was satnfactory. However, there was still malnutrition in a small proportion of chihlren. Underweight, stunting and overweight were seen in all age groups. As such there is a need to identify these chiMren and improve their nutritional status.
    Matched MeSH terms: Thinness
  8. The magnitude and trends of under- and over-nutrition in Asian countries
    Ke-You G, Da-Wei F
    Biomed Environ Sci, 2001 Jun;14(1-2):53-60.
    PMID: 11594480
    In order to understand the magnitude and trends of both under- and over-nutrition problems in Asian countries, we reviewed data available in a number of selected countries. In general, the prevalence of under-nutrition is declining in this region but is still heavy in many countries. The trends varied with complexity of individual countries. In China, the prevalence of underweight, stunting and wasting was 21.6%, 30.5% and 2.6% in children of 0-4 years old (90,662 subjects, 1987) . Another large-scale survey in 1992 (176,976 subjects) presented a prevalence of 17.1% , 33.5% and 4.5%, respectively. Recent studies showed a remarkable improvement in both underweight and stunting. The National Student Survey in 1995, however, showed that the prevalence of under-nutrition was 26.9% for schoolboys and 38.3% for schoolgirls (7-18 yr). There was an increase of 4.7% and 3 .5%, respectively, compared with the results of a similar survey conducted in 1985. The proportion of malnutrition in Chinese adults (BMI < 18.5) was 11.6% in 1982 and 9.0% in 1992 for urban areas, and 12.9% and 8.0% for rural areas, indicating a descending trend over the 10 years. The prevalence of underweight was the highest, over 50% among children below 6 years old, in both Bangladesh and India, between 50% and 20% in Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, and below 20% in Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Fiji. It showed a declining trend from the 1970s to the 1990s with an average annual reduction of 0.8 to 1.9 percentage points in these countries. The problem of over-nutrition is emerging quickly in this region, not only in some better-off countries but also in countries in economy transition. In China, the prevalence of overweight and obesity in young adults (BMI > 25) was increased from 9.7% to 14.9% for urban areas and from 6.15% to 8.4% for rural areas in a 10-year period (1982 - 1992), and the prevalence of overweight jumped from 3.38% and 2.75% in 1985 to 7.18% and 8.65% in 1995 for schoolboys and schoolgirls. In India, the increase of overweight and obesity in female adults was 5.0 percentage points from 1989 to 1994. The prevalence of overweight was 24.5% for male and 21.4% for female in Japan (1995), and 28.7% and 26.0% in Malaysia (1990). These results indicate that over-nutrition is a growing problem in this region. Many Asian countries are facing double challenges. They have to deal with both under-nutrition and over-nutrition problems. Among many possible interventions, the further strengthening mass education on healthy diet practice should be emphasized.
    Matched MeSH terms: Thinness/epidemiology
  9. Fulltext The health of Malaysia’s “Orang Asli” peoples: a review of the scientific evidence on nutritional outcome, parasite infestations, and discussion on implications for clinical practice
    Phua, K.L.
    Malaysian Journal of Public Health Medicine, 2015;15(1):0-0.
    MyJurnal
    The Orang Asli of Malaysia continue to experience poor health. There appears to be stagnation of certain aspect of their health status. Underweight (low weight-for-age) and stunting (low height-for-age) are significant amongst Orang Asli children. Worm infestation such as Ascaris, Trichuris and hookworm continue to afflict Orang Asli communities in Malaysia. Orang Asli communities can also be afflicted by other kinds of parasites, e.g. malaria parasites, microsporida parasites and Cryptosporidium parasites. Thus, primary care doctors who treat Orang Asli patients should be on the lookout for malnutrition and its effects (including anaemia, iodine deficiency, Vitamin A deficiency) as well as worm and parasite infestations. Such patients may need to undergo de-worming at regular intervals because of the tendency to get re-infected. Primary care doctors also need to be aware of possible interactions between infestations and nutritional deficiencies.
    Matched MeSH terms: Thinness
  10. Fulltext The female athlete triad among elite Malaysian athletes: prevalence and associated factors
    Quah YV, Poh BK, Ng LO, Noor MI
    Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 2009;18(2):200-8.
    PMID: 19713179
    Women participating in a wide range of competitive sports are at higher risk of developing eating disorders, menstrual irregularities and osteoporosis, which are generally referred to as the 'female athlete triad'. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of female athlete triad and factors associated with this condition among athletes participating in different sports. A total of 67 elite female athletes aged between 13-30 years participated in the study and were subdivided into the 'leanness' and 'non-leanness' groups. Eating disorders were assessed using a body image figure rating and the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI) with body dissatisfaction (BD), drive for thinness (DT), bulimia (B) and perfectionism (P) subscales. Menstrual irregularity was assessed with a self-reported menstrual history questionnaire. Bone quality was measured using a quantitative ultrasound device at one-third distal radius. Prevalence of the female athlete triad was low (1.9%), but the prevalence for individual triad component was high, especially in the leanness group. The prevalence of subjects who were at risk of menstrual irregularity, poor bone quality and eating disorders were 47.6%, 13.3% and 89.2%, respectively, in the leanness group; and 14.3%, 8.3% and 89.2%, respectively, in the non-leanness group. Since the components of the triad are interrelated, identification of athletes at risk of having any one component of the triad, especially those participating in sports that emphasise a lean physique, is an important aid for further diagnosis.
    Matched MeSH terms: Thinness
  11. Fulltext The effect of extrusion screw-speed on the water extractability and molecular weight distribution of arabinoxylans from defatted rice bran
    Fadel A, Plunkett A, Ashworth J, Mahmoud AM, Ranneh Y, El Mohtadi M, et al.
    J Food Sci Technol, 2018 Mar;55(3):1201-1206.
    PMID: 29487463 DOI: 10.1007/s13197-017-3010-0
    Arabinoxylans (AXs) are major dietary fibre in cereals. Recently, AXs have attracted a great deal of attention because of their biological activities. These activities have been suggested to be related to the content of low molecular weight (Mw) AXs, in particular those with Mw below 32 kDa. Rice bran is a rich source of AXs. However, water extraction of AXs is difficult and often gives low yield. Extrusion processing has been used to increase the solubility of cereal dietary fibre. The aim of this research was to study the effect of extrusion screw-speeds (80 and 160) rpm on the extraction yield and Mw of water extractable AXs from rice bran. It was found that the extraction of AXs increased significantly with an increase in screw speed and was accompanied by a significant decrease in the Mw of AXs from extruded rice bran. The percentage of very low molecular weight AXs (0.79-1.58 kDa) significantly increased with increasing screw speed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Thinness
  12. Fulltext The challenges in managing the growth of indigenous children in Perak State, Malaysia: A qualitative study
    Chew CC, Lim XJ, Low LL, Lau KM, Kari M, Shamsudin UK, et al.
    PLoS One, 2022;17(3):e0265917.
    PMID: 35320328 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265917
    Indigenous peoples in Peninsular Malaysia, known as Orang Asli, have been associated with the problem of malnutrition. Approximately 40% of their children are underweight. Indigenous peoples' distinct social, cultural, and economic traits, which differ from those of the dominant communities in which they live, may pose significant challenges for health care providers (HCPs) in addressing the malnutrition issue. This study explores challenges encountered by HCPs, with at least six months of experience in monitoring the growth parameters of Orang Asli children residing in Perak State in Peninsular Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2020 and June 2021, involving three focus group discussions and three in-depth interviews. Thematic analysis was used. A total of 19 participants (6 nurses, 5 nursing managers, 4 medical officers, 2 nutritionists, a family medicine specialist, and a paediatrician) took part in this study. The challenges were summarized into four themes: (I) accessibility to nutrition, (II) accessibility to healthcare services, (II) skills of HCPs, and (IV) challenges of implementing nutrition programs. The inability of the Orang Asli children to access nutritious food was due to poverty, different perceptions of life priorities, and the practice of food taboos among the communities. Inadequate infrastructure and transportation discourage parents from bringing their children to healthcare facilities. The belief in and preference for traditional healing, the practice of semi-nomadic lifestyles, and fear of HCPs and their timid nature were factors that prevented Orang Asli children from accessing healthcare services. HCPs need to equip themselves with cross-cultural communication and interaction skills and adapt their skills to environmental challenges to overcome unexpected encounters in mobile clinics. The non-exposed food items, the risk of food basket sharing with other family members, and community feeding programs' coordination were the challenges to be addressed when implementing nutrition programmes for Orang Asli children. The challenges of HCPs are multifactorial and require a multifaceted approach. There is a need for joint efforts of stakeholders, from communities and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to the health authorities, to address the challenges of HCPs.
    Matched MeSH terms: Thinness
  13. Fulltext The association between body weight status, sodium intake and blood pressure with intraocular pressure among orang asli adolescents in Semenyih, Selangor
    Nurulain Asri, Tasneem Shaari, Mohd Zaki Awg Isa
    Journal of Optometry, Eye and Health Research, 2020;2(1):48-56.
    MyJurnal
    Abnormal intraocular pressure (IOP) if left untreated it can lead to glaucoma and permanent vision loss. However, the correlation between IOP and body weight status, sodium intake, and blood pressure (BP) are unclear among adolescents. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the relationship between body weight status, sodium intake, and BP with IOP among orang Asli adolescents. A total sample of 50 adolescents of Orang Asli aged 13 to 17 participated in this study. Three days' dietary intake was recorded through 24-hour diet recall to determine the sodium intake. The questionnaire was administered to acquire socio-demographic information, and measurements Body Mass Index (BMI) and BP were done according to standard protocols, and IOP was measured using Tonopen. Data obtained involving 40% boys and 60% girls. Two boys (4%) were underweight, 13 boys (26%) and 17 (34%) girls were normal weight, 4 (8%) boys and 11 (22%) girls were overweight, 1 (2%) boy and 2 (4%) girls were obese. Sixty percent of subjects have exceeded the Lowest-Observed-Adverse-Effect-Level (LOAEL) of 2300 mg of sodium intake. Hypertension stage 1 was found higher than hypertension stage 2 in male and female subjects, with 38% of the female have stage 1 hypertension compared to only 14% in male subjects. 98% of subjects have normal IOP and only 2% of subjects have high IOP. There was a significant association between BMI and IOP (p
    Matched MeSH terms: Thinness
  14. Fulltext The Use of Different International References to Assess Child Anthropometric Status in a Malaysian Population
    Partap U, Young EH, Allotey P, Sandhu MS, Reidpath DD
    J Pediatr, 2017 Nov;190:63-68.e1.
    PMID: 29144273 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2017.07.049
    OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of child underweight, overweight, and obesity in a Malaysian population according to 3 international references because classification of anthropometric status may differ according to the reference used to express body mass index (BMI).

    STUDY DESIGN: We assessed data from 6414 children aged 6-18 years, collected by the South East Asia Community Observatory. Child underweight, overweight, and obesity were expressed according to 3 internationally used BMI references: World Health Organization 2007, International Obesity Task Force 2012, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2000. We assessed agreement in classification of anthropometric status among the references using Cohen's kappa statistic and estimated underweight, overweight, and obesity prevalence according to each reference using mixed effects Poisson regression.

    RESULTS: There was poor to moderate agreement between references when classifying underweight, but generally good agreement when classifying overweight and obesity. Underweight, overweight, and obesity prevalence estimates generated using the 3 references were notably inconsistent. Overweight and obesity prevalence estimates were higher using the World Health Organization reference vs the other 2, and underweight prevalence was up to 8.5% higher and obesity prevalence was about 4% lower when using the International Obesity Task Force reference.

    CONCLUSIONS: The choice of reference to express BMI may influence conclusions about child anthropometric status and malnutrition prevalence. This has implications regarding strategies for clinical management and public health interventions.

    Matched MeSH terms: Thinness/epidemiology*
  15. Fulltext The Consumption of Dairy and Its Association with Nutritional Status in the South East Asian Nutrition Surveys (SEANUTS)
    Nguyen Bao KL, Sandjaja S, Poh BK, Rojroongwasinkul N, Huu CN, Sumedi E, et al.
    Nutrients, 2018 Jun 13;10(6).
    PMID: 29899251 DOI: 10.3390/nu10060759
    Despite a major decrease in undernutrition worldwide over the last 25 years, underweight and stunting in children still persist as public health issues especially in Africa and Asia. Adequate nutrition is one of the key factors for healthy growth and development of children. In this study, the associations between dairy consumption and nutritional status in the South East Asian Nutrition Survey (SEANUTS) were investigated. National representative data of 12,376 children in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam aged between 1 and 12 years were pooled, representing nearly 88 million children in this age category. It was found that the prevalence of stunting and underweight was lower in children who consumed dairy on a daily basis (10.0% and 12.0%, respectively) compared to children who did not use dairy (21.4% and 18.0%, respectively) (p < 0.05). The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency and vitamin D insufficiency was lower in the group of dairy users (3.9% and 39.4%, respectively) compared to non-dairy consumers (7.5% and 53.8%, respectively) (p < 0.05). This study suggests that dairy as part of a daily diet plays an important role in growth and supports a healthy vitamin A and vitamin D status.
    Matched MeSH terms: Thinness/diagnosis; Thinness/epidemiology; Thinness/physiopathology*; Thinness/prevention & control
  16. Fulltext The All-Cause Mortality and a Screening Tool to Determine High-Risk Patients among Prevalent Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients
    Bujang MA, Kuan PX, Tiong XT, Saperi FE, Ismail M, Mustafa FI, et al.
    J Diabetes Res, 2018;2018:4638327.
    PMID: 30116741 DOI: 10.1155/2018/4638327
    AIMS: This study aims to determine the all-cause mortality and the associated risk factors for all-cause mortality among the prevalent type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients within five years' period and to develop a screening tool to determine high-risk patients.

    METHODS: This is a cohort study of T2DM patients in the national diabetes registry, Malaysia. Patients' particulars were derived from the database between 1st January 2009 and 31st December 2009. Their records were matched with the national death record at the end of year 2013 to determine the status after five years. The factors associated with mortality were investigated, and a prognostic model was developed based on logistic regression model.

    RESULTS: There were 69,555 records analyzed. The mortality rate was 1.4 persons per 100 person-years. The major cause of death were diseases of the circulatory system (28.4%), infectious and parasitic diseases (19.7%), and respiratory system (16.0%). The risk factors of mortality within five years were age group (p < 0.001), body mass index category (p < 0.001), duration of diabetes (p < 0.001), retinopathy (p = 0.001), ischaemic heart disease (p < 0.001), cerebrovascular (p = 0.007), nephropathy (p = 0.001), and foot problem (p = 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of the proposed model was fairly strong with 70.2% and 61.3%, respectively.

    CONCLUSIONS: The elderly and underweight T2DM patients with complications have higher risk for mortality within five years. The model has moderate accuracy; the prognostic model can be used as a screening tool to classify T2DM patients who are at higher risk for mortality within five years.

    Matched MeSH terms: Thinness
  17. Fulltext Subject-Specific Effect of Metallic Body Accessories on Path Loss of Dynamic on-Body Propagation Channels
    Rahim HA, Abdulmalek M, Soh PJ, Rani KA, Hisham N, Vandenbosch GA
    Sci Rep, 2016 07 20;6:29818.
    PMID: 27436496 DOI: 10.1038/srep29818
    This paper presents the investigation of path loss variation for subject-specific on-body radio propagation channels, considering the effect of metallic spectacles and loop like metallic accessories. Adding metallic items may affect the operability of Body Centric Wireless Communications (BCWC). Measurements were carried out in an RF-shielded room lined with microwave absorbing sheets for strategically placed bodyworn antennas covering the upper front torso and the lower limbs. The path loss of the on-body radio channel was characterized explicitly taking into account the body size of the subjects. For metallic loop-like accessories, the results indicate that for underweight subjects, there was a slightly higher influence, up to 2%, compared to normal and overweight subjects. Our findings indicate that a noticeable effect exists on on-body channels for dynamic movements where the metallic watch acts as a local scatterer that affects the non-line-of-sight (NLOS) signal path between transmitter and receiver for underweight subjects in comparison to normal and overweight subjects. The path loss decreases when the receiving terminal was positioned very close to the metallic item. If a loop-like metallic accessory is not appropriately considered when designing the radio channel on a subject, the reliability of the body-centric wireless system may degrade.
    Matched MeSH terms: Thinness
  18. Socio-economic determinants of nutritional status of children in rural peninsular Malaysia
    Marjan ZM, Taib MN, Lin KG, Siong TE
    Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 1998 Dec;7(3/4):307-10.
    PMID: 24393689
    The data presented is part of the findings from a four-year collaborative research project between Universiti Putra Malaysia, the Institute for Medical Research and the Ministry of Health Malaysia. The project assessed the nutritional status of the major functional groups in Peninsular Malaysia. Mukim Sayong and Pulau Kemiri in the District of Kuala Kangsar, Perak were two of the subdistricts selected to represent small rubber holdings in Peninsular Malaysia. This paper attempts to analyse the socio-economic profile of the households and the nutritional status of children below 9 years of age. A total of 307 households were studied. Approximately 63% of the households were involved in rubber activities and the majority of them were hired tappers. The average monthly income of the households was RM467 and the income ranged between RM30 to RM2120. Based on the per capita poverty line income of RM84.38, it was found that 14.1% of the households earned less than RM42.19, which can be considered as hard-core poor, while 32.7% were poor (monthly per capita income between RM42.19 and RM84.38). Slightly more than half (52.7%) earned income above the poverty line. The average family size was 4.5, ranging from 1 through to 16. The majority of the heads of households (56.6%) had between 3 and 6 years of education, and 14.5% did not receive any formal education. The prevalence of stunting among children 0-5 years of age was 26%, while 31.5% were underweight and 3.8% wasted. Among children aged between 5 and 9 years, almost the same pattern of nutritional status was noted. The overall percentages of stunting, underweight and wasting among these children were 29.2%, 26.1% and 0.62%, respectively. Analysis on nutritional status according to income level showed a noticeable difference in the prevalence of malnutrition in children above and below the poverty line income. The Student's t-test indicated significant differences in weight-for-age and weight-for-height between the two poverty line income for children below 5 years of age. Pearson's correlation coefficient showed a significant correlation between height-for-age with household size (r = -0.26, p<0.05), and monthly per capita income with weight-for-height (r = 0.25, p<0.05). There was a highly significant correlation between acreage of land cultivated and weight-for-height (r = 0.42, p<0.01), and weight-for-age (r = 0.25, p<0.05). The findings indicated the influence of socio-economic factors on the nutritional status of children.
    Matched MeSH terms: Thinness
  19. Fulltext Socio-Demographic Factors and Body Image Perception Are Associated with BMI-For-Age among Children Living in Welfare Homes in Selangor, Malaysia
    A Rahim NN, Chin YS, Sulaiman N
    Nutrients, 2019 Jan 11;11(1).
    PMID: 30641864 DOI: 10.3390/nu11010142
    Considering the double burden of malnutrition in Malaysia, data on malnourished children living in welfare homes are limited. This study aimed to determine the body weight status of children living in welfare homes and its associated factors. A total of 307 children aged 7⁻17 years old living in 15 selected welfare homes completed a standardized questionnaire, and their body weight and height were measured by trained researchers. There were 54.4% orphans, 23.8% abandoned children, and 21.8% children from problematic families. There were 51.5% boys and 48.5% girls; 52.4% were Malays, followed by 31.3% Indians, 12.7% Chinese, and 3.6% from other ethnic groups. The prevalence of overweight and obesity (23.1%) was higher than the prevalence of thinness (8.5%). In bivariate analyses, socio-demographic factors of age (p = 0.003), sex (p = 0.0001), ethnicity (p = 0.001), and welfare home enrollment status (p = 0.003), and psychological factors of self-esteem (p = 0.003), body shape dissatisfaction (p = 0.0001), and underestimation of body weight status (p = 0.002), were significantly associated with body mass index (BMI)-for-age. In the multiple linear regression analysis, children who were either Malays (β = 0.492) or Chinese (β = 0.678), with a status of being abandoned (β = 0.409), with body shape dissatisfaction (β = 0.457), and underestimated body weight status (β = 0.628) significantly explained 39.7% of the variances in higher BMI-for-age (F = 39.550; p < 0.05). Besides socio-demographic background, the current findings emphasized the importance of incorporating body image perception in an obesity prevention intervention program in welfare homes.
    Matched MeSH terms: Thinness/epidemiology*
  20. Fulltext Self-perceived anxiety symptoms and its associated factors among type 2 Diabetic patients in rural communities of Malaysia
    Azlina Wati Nikmat, Mohd Ariff Fadzil, Sakinah Idris
    Journal of Clinical and Health Sciences, 2016;1(2):11-17.
    MyJurnal
    Introduction: Little is known about anxiety symptoms among diabetic patients, especially among those who are living in rural areas in Malaysia. Thus, the aim of this paper is to investigate the prevalence of anxiety among diabetic patients and factors associated with anxiety in rural communities in Malaysia. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 464 diabetes mellitus patients in rural health districts and outpatient clinics in Malaysia was conducted. Each participant was interviewed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Results: Respondents consisted of 193 (41.6%) males and 271 (58.4%) females. The mean age of participants was 59.65 ± 10.16 years and the mean duration of diabetes mellitus was 6.9 ± 6.3 years. Results indicate that 15% of the participants have anxiety symptoms. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that patients with history of ischemic heart disease and depression and those who were underweight have higher anxiety scores with adjusted OR 5.06 (95% CI 1.79 to 14.27), 27.71 (95% CI 14.23 to 53.98) and 14.6 (95% CI 2.49 to 84.82), respectively. Conclusions: This study suggests that although the prevalence of anxiety among diabetics is low, primary care physician should be trained to identify high risk patients and to manage their condition in order to improve the clinical outcome.

    Study site: rural health districts and outpatient clinics in Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Thinness
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