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Fulltext Nutritional status and early childhood caries among preschool children in Pasir Mas, Kelantan, Malaysia

Hasan Ruhaya, Nasruddin Jaafar, Marhazlinda Jamaluddin, Abdul Rashid Ismail, Noorliza Mastura Ismail, Tambi Chek Badariah, et al.

Archives of Orofacial Sciences, 2012;7(2):1-7.
MyJurnal

This is a cross-sectional study in a representative sample of preschool children from 12 preschools (TADIKA KEMAS) Pasir Mas, Kelantan, Malaysia. Data on socioeconomic status and sources of water supply at home were collected through interview with mothers. Children’s anthropometric data (height and weight) and body-mass-index-for-age (BMI-for-age) was calculated. Oral examinations of ECC status was based on the dmft index (WHO, 1997). The results showed mean
carious teeth were very high (dmft 11.1±4.8) and almost every preschool child was affected with ECC (prevalence 98.1%). The majority were in “high caries” category (i.e. dmft >7) and about 51.4% of preschoolers was underweight and only a few was overweight/obese. Preschool children with high caries mostly were underweight and normal of BMI. The BMI-for-age, household income and household expenditure for food were significant correlation with ECC experience (p

Matched MeSH terms: Body Mass Index
Fulltext Association between functional dentition with inadequate calorie intake and underweight in elderly people living in “Pondok” in Kelantan

Seman, K., Abdul Manaf, H., Ismail, A.R.

Archives of Orofacial Sciences, 2007;2(1):10-19.
MyJurnal

This study was to investigate the association between functional dentition with inadequate calorie intake and underweight in elderly people living in “Pondok” in Kelantan. A cross-sectional study participated by 369 elderly people was carried out. A simple random sampling method was utilized for the selection of the subjects. Subjects were interviewed using a structured form to collect information about subjects’ demographic background and self-reported health status. The 24-hour recall method was used to provide information on the subject’s exact food intake during the previous 24 hours. Body mass index was calculated from subjects’ weight and height, followed by oral assessment. The “Nutrical Software” was used for nutrient calculation, followed by SPSS version 11.5 for data analysis. The response rate was 95.6%. Majority of the respondents were female (92.4%). The percentage of subjects who had inadequate calorie intake and underweight was 71.0% and 25.7% respectively. The percentage of edentulism was 81.0%. The proportion of elderly with compromised functional dentition was 48.2% and majority was edentate elderly without wearing any complete dentures or wearing defective dentures, 23.6% and 56.2% respectively, while 20.2% was dentate elderly. The odds of having inadequate calorie intake and getting underweight among elderly with a compromised functional dentition was 3.7 times and 42.0 times respectively, compared to elderly with a non-compromised functional dentition. There was a significant association between inadequate calorie intake and underweight with functional dentition among elderly living in “Pondok” in Kelantan.

Matched MeSH terms: Body Mass Index
Fulltext Factors associated with dental caries among selected urban school children in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Kaur, Satvinder, MaykanathaN, Dhivyalosini, Lyn, Ng Kai

Archives of Orofacial Sciences, 2015;10(1):24-33.
MyJurnal

This study aimed to assess the nutritional status (BMI), oral health behaviour, sugar consumption and the associated factors with dental caries among a group of 7 to 11 years old children in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Three hundred and twelve students were recruited from February to July 2013. Information gathered were their socio-demographic characteristics, body mass index, sugar consumption, oral-health behaviour, oral hygiene index and decay-missing-filled teeth (dmft) index. Anthropometry measurements and sugar intake was measured using verified tools. Meanwhile, dmft was examined using the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. 53.7% of the children were of the normal body weight with mean sugar consumption of 31.81±4.24 g/day. Prevalence of dental caries was reported at 44.6% (95% CI: 42.2, 53.3) with a mean (SD) dmft of 1.27(1.84). No association was found between dental caries and weight status distribution. Most children tend to brush their teeth 2 times or more in a day (75%), however, they spent lesser time in tooth brushing (5.4%) and do not practice flossing (78%). Regression analysis showed that age (p

Matched MeSH terms: Body Mass Index
Characterization of risk factors for DNA damage among paddy farm worker exposed to mixtures of organophosphates

How V, Hashim Z, Ismail P, Omar D, Said SM, Tamrin SB

Arch Environ Occup Health, 2015;70(2):102-9.
PMID: 24965330 DOI: 10.1080/19338244.2013.823905

This is a cross-sectional study conducted among paddy farmers to characterize potential risk factors that influence levels of DNA damage from exposure to mixtures of organophosphates. Comet assay was used to determine the level of DNA damage by measuring the comet tail length from the exfoliated buccal mucosa. The result suggests that farmers who chronically exposure to a mixture of organophosphates has at least 2-fold significant increase of DNA damage as compared with control group. Factor analysis and linear regression both suggest that DNA damage reported by farmers may influence individual, occupational, and residential factors and are reported as significant predictor factors, whereas this effect is mainly caused by individual factors among the control group. The findings of the present study suggest that either farmer or control group bear certain extent of genotoxic burden contributed by different risk factors.

Matched MeSH terms: Body Mass Index
Adiponectin SNP45TG is associated with gestational diabetes mellitus

Low CF, Mohd Tohit ER, Chong PP, Idris F

Arch Gynecol Obstet, 2011 Jun;283(6):1255-60.
PMID: 20552210 DOI: 10.1007/s00404-010-1548-4

Diabetes and pregnancy can be associated in two ways: pregnancy that occurs in women who are already diabetic (diabetes of pre-gestational origin); and diabetes that occur in women who are already pregnant [gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (O'sullivan 1961)]. Patients with previous GDM history have higher risk of developing diabetes outside of pregnancy. Accumulating literature had suggested that adiponectin plays a role in the pathophysiology of this metabolic syndrome, and several of the common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in adiponectin gene have been identified in type 2 diabetes. Thus, one of the commonly found SNP was studied to determine its association with GDM.

Matched MeSH terms: Body Mass Index
Determinants of the optic cup to disc ratio in an Asian population: the Singapore Malay Eye Study (SiMES)

Amerasinghe N, Wong TY, Wong WL, Mitchell P, Shen SY, Loon SC, et al.

Arch. Ophthalmol., 2008 Aug;126(8):1101-8.
PMID: 18695105 DOI: 10.1001/archopht.126.8.1101

To describe the distribution and determinants of the optic cup to disc ratio (CDR) in Malay adults in Singapore.

Matched MeSH terms: Body Mass Index
Ethnic differences in bone mineral density among midlife women in a multi-ethnic Southeast Asian cohort

Thu WPP, Logan SJS, Cauley JA, Kramer MS, Yong EL

Arch Osteoporos, 2019 07 19;14(1):80.
PMID: 31324992 DOI: 10.1007/s11657-019-0631-0

Chinese Singaporean middle-aged women have significantly lower femoral neck bone mineral density and higher lumbar spine bone mineral density than Malays and Indians, after adjustment for age, body mass index, and height.
PURPOSE: Information regarding mediators of differences in bone mineral density (BMD) among Asian ethnicities are limited. Since the majority of hip fractures are predicted to be from Asia, differences in BMD in Asian ethnicities require further exploration. We compared BMD among the Chinese, Malay, or Indian ethnicities in Singapore, aiming to identify potential mediators for the observed differences.
METHODS: BMD of 1201 women aged 45-69 years was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. We examined the associations between ethnicity and BMD at both sites, before and after adjusting for potential mediators measured using standardized questionnaires and validated performance tests.
RESULTS: Chinese women had significantly lower femoral neck BMD than Malay and Indian women. Of the more than 20 variables examined, age, body mass index, and height accounted for almost all the observed ethnic differences in femoral neck BMD between Chinese and Malays. However, Indian women still retained 0.047 g/cm2 (95% CI, 0.024, 0.071) higher femoral neck BMD after adjustment, suggesting that additional factors may contribute to the increased BMD in Indians. Although no crude ethnic differences in lumbar spine BMD were observed, adjusted regression model unmasked ethnic differences, wherein Chinese women had 0.061(95% CI, - 0.095, 0.026) and 0.065 (95% CI, - 0.091, 0.038) g/cm2 higher lumbar spine BMD compared to Malay and Indian women, respectively.
CONCLUSION: BMD in middle-aged Asian women differ by ethnicity and site. Particular attention should be paid to underweight women of Chinese ethnic origin, who may be at highest risk of osteoporosis at the femoral neck and hence hip fractures.

Matched MeSH terms: Body Mass Index
Bee bread attenuates high fat diet induced renal pathology in obese rats via modulation of oxidative stress, downregulation of NF-kB mediated inflammation and Bax signalling

Eleazu C, Suleiman JB, Othman ZA, Zakaria Z, Nna VU, Hussain NHN, et al.

Arch Physiol Biochem, 2020 Apr 22.
PMID: 32319823 DOI: 10.1080/13813455.2020.1752258

Context: Global prevalence of obesity is increasing. Objective: To study the effect of bee bread (BB) on serum renal function parameters, oxidative stress, inflammatory and B-cell associated protein X (Bax) in the kidneys of high fat diet (HFD) obese rats. Methods: Thirty-six male Sprague Dawley rats were used. Control: received rat diet and water (1 mL/kg); HFD group: received HFD and water (1 mL/kg): bee bread (BB) preventive or orlistat preventive: received HFD and BB (0.5 g/kg) or HFD and orlistat (10 mg/kg); BB or orlistat treatment: received BB (0.5 g/kg) or orlistat (10 mg/kg). Results: HFD group had increased body weight, Body Mass Index, Lee Obesity Indices, kidney weights, malondialdehyde, inflammatory markers, Bax; decreased glutathione peroxidase, glutathione-S-transferase, superoxide dismutase, total antioxidant activity, no differences (p > .05) in food intakes, serum creatinine, sodium, potassium, chloride, catalase compared to control. Conclusion: BB modulated most of these parameters, as corroborated by histology.

Matched MeSH terms: Body Mass Index
Moringa oleifera Lam. leaf extracts reverse metabolic syndrome in Sprague Dawley rats fed high-fructose high fat diet for 60-days

Irfan HM, Khan NAK, Asmawi MZ

Arch Physiol Biochem, 2020 May 15.
PMID: 32412306 DOI: 10.1080/13813455.2020.1762661

Background:Moringa oleifera Lam. has been used traditionally for the treatment of different cardio-metabolic disorders. So, the aim was to assess its leaf extracts in metabolic syndrome rat model.Methods: Out of the total 36-rats, 6 rats were given normal matched diet (NMD) while the rest were provided high-fat diet and 20% fructose (HFD-20%F). Moringa oleifera leaf extracts were administered orally for 30 days. Body weight, blood glucose, BMI, blood pressure, lipids, insulin, insulin resistance, MCP-1, visceral fat and liver weight were evaluated.Results: Sixty-days feeding with HFD-20%F produced the metabolic syndrome features like hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, and increase in low-density lipoprotein (LDL), visceral fat, and liver weight significantly (p

Matched MeSH terms: Body Mass Index
Fulltext The prevalence and factors associated with obesity among adult women in Selangor, Malaysia

Sidik SM, Rampal L

Asia Pac Fam Med, 2009 Apr 09;8(1):2.
PMID: 19358728 DOI: 10.1186/1447-056X-8-2

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of obesity in developing countries especially among women is on the rise. This matter should be taken seriously because it can burden the health care systems and lower the quality of life.
AIM: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of obesity among adult women in Selangor and to determine factors associated with obesity among these women.
METHODS: This community based cross sectional study was conducted in Selangor in January 2004. Multi stage stratified proportionate to size sampling method was used. Women aged 20-59 years old were included in this study. Data was collected using a questionnaire-guided interview method. The questionnaire consisted of questions on socio-demographic (age, ethnicity, religion, education level, occupation, monthly income, marital status), Obstetric & Gynaecology history, body mass index (BMI), and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9).
RESULTS: Out of 1032 women, 972 agreed to participate in this study, giving a response rate of 94.2%. The mean age was 37.91 +/- 10.91. The prevalence of obesity among the respondents was 16.7% (mean = 1.83 +/- 0.373). Obesity was found to be significantly associated with age (p = 0.013), ethnicity (p = 0.001), religion (p = 0.002), schooling (p = 0.020), educational level (p = 0.016), marital status (p = 0.001) and the history of suffering a miscarriage within the past 6 months (p = 0.023).
CONCLUSION: The prevalence of obesity among adult women in this study was high. This problem needs to be emphasized as the prevalence of obesity keeps increasing, and will continue to worsen unless appropriate preventive measures are taken.

Matched MeSH terms: Body Mass Index
Fulltext Assessment of muscle mass and its association with protein intake in a multi-ethnic Asian population: relevance in chronic kidney disease

Teo BW, Toh QC, Chan XW, Xu H, Li JL, Lee EJ

Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 2014;23(4):619-25.
PMID: 25516320 DOI: 10.6133/apjcn.2014.23.4.01

Clinical practice guidelines recommend objective nutritional assessments in managing chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients but were developed while referencing to a North-American population. Specific recommendations for assessing muscle mass were suggested (mid-arm circumference, MAC; corrected mid-arm muscle area, cAMA; mid-arm muscle circumference, MAMC). This study aimed to assess correlation and association of these assessments with dietary protein intake in a multi-ethnic Asian population of healthy and CKD patients.

Matched MeSH terms: Body Mass Index
Fulltext Food insecurity and the metabolic syndrome among women from low income communities in Malaysia

Shariff ZM, Sulaiman N, Jalil RA, Yen WC, Yaw YH, Taib MN, et al.

Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 2014;23(1):138-47.
PMID: 24561982 DOI: 10.6133/apjcn.2014.23.1.05

This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between household food insecurity and the metabolic syndrome (MetS) among reproductive-aged women (n=625) in low income communities. The Radimer/Cornell Hunger and Food Insecurity instrument was utilized to assess food insecurity. Anthropometry, diet diversity, blood pressure and fasting venous blood for lipid and glucose profile were also obtained. MetS was defined as having at least 3 risk factors and is in accordance with the Harmonized criteria. The prevalence of food insecurity and MetS was 78.4% (household food insecure, 26.7%; individual food insecure, 25.3%; child hunger, 26.4%) and 25.6%, respectively. While more food secure than food insecure women had elevated glucose (food secure, 54.8% vs food insecure, 37.3-46.1%), total cholesterol (food secure, 54.1% vs food insecure, 32.1-40.7%) and LDL-cholesterol (food secure, 63.7% vs food insecure, 40.6-48.7%), the percentage of women with overweight/ obesity, abdominal obesity, hypertension, high triglyceride, low HDL-cholesterol and MetS did not vary significantly by food insecurity status. However, after controlling for demographic and socioeconomic covariates, women in food insecure households were less likely to have MetS (individual food insecure and child hunger) (p<0.05), abdominal obesity (individual food insecure and child hunger) (p<0.01), elevated glucose (household food insecure), total cholesterol (child hunger) (p<0.05) and LDL-cholesterol (household food insecure and child hunger) (p<0.05) compared to food secure women. Efforts to improve food insecurity of low income households undergoing nutrition transition should address availability and accessibility to healthy food choices and nutrition education that could reduce the risk of diet-related chronic diseases.

Matched MeSH terms: Body Mass Index
Fulltext Sleep deprivation is related to obesity and low intake of energy and carbohydrates among working Iranian adults: a cross sectional study

Parvaneh K, Poh BK, Hajifaraji M, Ismail MN

Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 2014;23(1):84-90.
PMID: 24561976 DOI: 10.6133/apjcn.2014.23.1.02

Sleep deficiency is becoming widespread in both adults and adolescents and is accompanied by certain behaviors that can lead to obesity. This study aims to investigate differences in sleep duration of overweight/obese and normal weight groups, and the association between sleep deprivation and obesity, dietary intake and physical activity. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 226 Iranian working adults (109 men and 117 women) aged 20 to 55 years old who live in Tehran. Body weight, height, waist and hip circumferences were measured, and BMI was calculated. Questionnaires, including the Sleep Habit Heart Questionnaire (SHHQ), International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and 24-hour dietary recall, were interview-administered. Subjects were categorized as normal weight (36.3%) or overweight/obese (63.7%) based on WHO standards (2000). Overweight/ obese subjects slept significantly (p<0.001) later (00:32±00:62 AM) and had shorter sleep duration (5.37±1.1 hours) than normal weight subjects (23:30±00:47 PM and 6.54±1.06 hours, respectively). Sleep duration showed significant (p<0.05) direct correlations to energy (r = 0.174), carbohydrate (r = 0.154) and fat intake (r = 0.141). This study revealed that each hour later in bedtime (going to bed later) increased the odds of being overweight or obese by 2.59-fold (95% CI: 1.61-4.16). The findings in this study confirm that people with shorter sleep duration are more likely to be overweight or obese; hence, strategies for the management of obesity should incorporate a consideration of sleep patterns.

Matched MeSH terms: Body Mass Index
Fulltext Parental body mass index is associated with adolescent overweight and obesity in Mashhad, Iran

Shafaghi K, Shariff ZM, Taib MN, Rahman HA, Mobarhan MG, Jabbari H

Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 2014;23(2):225-31.
PMID: 24901091 DOI: 10.6133/apjcn.2014.23.2.11

OBJECTIVE: This cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity among secondary school children aged 12 to 14 years in the city of Mashhad, Iran and its association with parental body mass index.
METHODS: A total of 1189 secondary school children (579 males and 610 females) aged 12- 14 years old were selected through a stratified multistage random sampling. All adolescents were measured for weight and height. Household socio-demographic information and parental weight and height were self-reported by parents. Adolescents were classified as overweight or obese based on BMI-for age Z-score. Multivariable logistic Regression (MLR) determined the relationship between parental BMI and adolescent overweight and obesity.
RESULTS: The overall prevalence of overweight and obesity among secondary school children in Mashhad was 17.2% and 11.9%, respectively. A higher proportion of male (30.7%) than female (27.4%) children were overweight or obese. BMI of the children was significantly related to parental BMI (p<0.001), gender (p= 0.02), birth order (p<0.01), parents' education level (p<0.001), father's employment status (p<0.001), and family income (p<0.001). MLR showed that the father's BMI was significantly associated with male BMI (OR: 2.02) and female BMI (OR: 1.59), whereas the mother's BMI was significantly associated with female BMI only (OR: 0.514).
CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of overweight/obesity among the research population compared with previous studies in Iran could be related to the changing lifestyle of the population. The strong relationship with parental BMI was probably related to a combination of genetic and lifestyle factors. Strategies to address childhood obesity should consider the interaction of these factors.

Matched MeSH terms: Body Mass Index*
Fulltext Relationship between anthropometric and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry measures to assess total and regional adiposity in Malaysian adolescents

Foo LH, Teo PS, Abdullah NF, Aziz ME, Hills AP

Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 2013;22(3):348-56.
PMID: 23945404 DOI: 10.6133/apjcn.2013.22.3.02

The main objective of this paper was to determine the utility of various anthropometric measures to assess total and regional body fatness using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) as the criterion in 454 adolescent boys and girls aged 12-19 years. Multivariable regression analyses of gender-specific and gender-combined models were used to determine anthropometric measures on DXA-derived body fatness models, after adjusting for known confounding biological factors. Partial correlation analyses, after adjusting for age, pubertal growth status and ethnicity in boys and girls, showed that body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-height ratio (WhtR) were significantly correlated with total body fat (TBF), percent body fat (%BF), android region fat (ARF) and trunk fat (TF) (all p<0.0001). BMI was the greatest independent determinant, contributing 43.8%-80.9% of the total variance for DXA-derived body fatness models. Results confirmed that a simple anthropometric index such as the BMI is a good surrogate indicator of body fat levels in Malay and Chinese adolescents.

Matched MeSH terms: Body Mass Index
Fulltext Plasma adiponectin concentrations are associated with dietary glycemic index in Malaysian patients with type 2 diabetes

Loh BI, Sathyasuryan DR, Mohamed HJ

Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 2013;22(2):241-8.
PMID: 23635368 DOI: 10.6133/apjcn.2013.22.2.04

Adiponectin, an adipocyte-derived hormone has been implicated in the control of blood glucose and chronic inflammation in type 2 diabetes. However, limited studies have evaluated dietary factors on plasma adiponectin levels, especially among type 2 diabetic patients in Malaysia. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of dietary glycemic index on plasma adiponectin concentrations in patients with type 2 diabetes. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 305 type 2 diabetic patients aged 19-75 years from the Penang General Hospital, Malaysia. Socio-demographic information was collected using a standard questionnaire while dietary details were determined by using a pre-validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Anthropometry measurement included weight, height, BMI and waist circumference. Plasma adiponectin concentrations were measured using a commercial ELISA kit. Data were analyzed using multiple linear regression. After multivariate adjustment, dietary glycemic index was inversely associated with plasma adiponectin concentrations (β =-0.272, 95% CI -0.262, - 0.094; p<0.001). It was found that in individuals who consumed 1 unit of foods containing high dietary glycemic index that plasma adiponectin level reduced by 0.3 μg/mL. Thirty two percent (31.9%) of the variation in adiponectin concentrations was explained by age, sex, race, smoking status, BMI, waist circumference, HDL-C, triglycerides, magnesium, fiber and dietary glycemic index according to the multiple linear regression model (R2=0.319). These results support the hypothesis that dietary glycemic index influences plasma adiponectin concentrations in patients with type 2 diabetes. Controlled clinical trials are required to confirm our findings and to elucidate the underlying mechanism.

Matched MeSH terms: Body Mass Index
Fulltext Prevalence of overweight and obesity among adult Malaysians: an update

Wan Nazaimoon WM, Musa KI, Md Khir AS, Ismail AA, Ismail IS, Khalid BAK, et al.

Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 2011;20(1):35-41.
PMID: 21393108

A total of 4428 adults (>18 years old) from 5 different selected regions in Peninsular and East Malaysia participated in this health survey. Using World Health Organization recommendations for body mass index (BMI), the prevalence of overweight and obesity were found to be 33.6% (95% CI= 32.2, 35.0) and 19.5% (95% CI= 18.3, 20.7) respectively. There were more females who were obese (22.5%, 95% CI=20.9, 24.0) compared to males (14.1%, 95% CI=12.3, 15.9). Highest prevalence of obesity were among the Indians (24.6%, 95% CI=20.3, 29.3), followed closely by the Malays (23.2%, 95% CI=21.6, 24.8%) and lowest prevalence was among the Chinese subjects (8.2%, 95% CI=6.2, 10.6). More than 43% of the 531 younger subjects (<30 years old) were either overweight (20%, 95% CI=16.6, 23.6) or obese (13.9%, 95% CI=11.1, 17.2%). All subjects who claimed to be non-diabetes were required to undergo 75 g glucose tolerance test. Compared to subjects with normal BMI (18.5-24.9 kg/m2), there was a 3- and 2-folds increase in the prevalence of newly diagnosed diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance respectively, among obese subjects (BMI>30 kg/m2) who initially claimed to have no diabetes. This study highlights a need for more active, inter-sectoral participation advocating a health-promoting environment in order to combat obesity in this country.

Matched MeSH terms: Body Mass Index
Fulltext Optimal cut-off levels to define obesity: body mass index and waist circumference, and their relationship to cardiovascular disease, dyslipidaemia, hypertension and diabetes in Malaysia

Mohd Zaher ZM, Zambari R, Chan SP, Muruga V, Ng B, Appannah G, et al.

Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 2009;18(2):209-16.
PMID: 19713180

Many studies in Asia have demonstrated that Asian populations may require lower cut-off levels for body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference to define obesity and abdominal obesity respectively, compared to western populations. Optimal cut-off levels for body mass index and waist circumference were determined to assess the relationship between the two anthropometric- and cardiovascular indices. Receiver operating characteristics analysis was used to determine the optimal cut-off levels. The study sample included 1833 subjects (mean age of 44+/-14 years) from 93 primary care clinics in Malaysia. Eight hundred and seventy two of the subjects were men and 960 were women. The optimal body mass index cut-off values predicting dyslipidaemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or at least one cardiovascular risk factor varied from 23.5 to 25.5 kg/m2 in men and 24.9 to 27.4 kg/m2 in women. As for waist circumference, the optimal cut-off values varied from 83 to 92 cm in men and from 83 to 88 cm in women. The optimal cut-off values from our study showed that body mass index of 23.5 kg/m2 in men and 24.9 kg/m2 in women and waist circumference of 83 cm in men and women may be more suitable for defining the criteria for overweight or obesity among adults in Malaysia. Waist circumference may be a better indicator for the prediction of obesity-related cardiovascular risk factors in men and women compared to BMI. Further investigation using a bigger sample size in Asia needs to be done to confirm our findings.
Study site: 93 primary care clinics (klinik kesihatan and general practice clinics) in Malaysia

Matched MeSH terms: Body Mass Index*
Fulltext Adults' perceptions of being overweight or obese: a focus group study

Chang CT, Chang KH, Cheah WL

Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 2009;18(2):257-64.
PMID: 19713186

The objective of this study was to explore the perception of, feelings and attitudes toward overweight or obesity, and the perceived barriers to weight loss among native adults from lower socio-economic background. A total of six gender- and ethnic-specific focus groups consisted of 38 overweight and obese purposefully and criterion selected adults (21 women and 17 men), participated in this study. An unstructured discussion guide based on the study objectives were used for the focus groups. The results showed that some participants perceived themselves as ugly, felt ashamed of their body size and were frustrated because they did not desire to be overweight. Due to their excess weight, most also expressed they were less effective in their work performances. Although some participants had negative attitudes toward themselves because of excess weight, this appeared to link to self-stigmatization rather than anti-obesity discrimination. The participants remained in the Pre-contemplation stage of losing weight probably because of perceived barriers such as difficulty to resist eating, lack of know how and previous failed attempts to lose weight. Importantly, this study provided some evidence that individuals in the Pre-contemplation stage are unable to take action to lose weight, even if effective strategies are suggested.

Matched MeSH terms: Body Mass Index
Fulltext Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its influencing factors among adolescent girls in Mashhad, Iran

Mirhosseini NZ, Yusoff NA, Shahar S, Parizadeh SM, Mobarhen MG, Shakery MT

Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 2009;18(1):131-6.
PMID: 19329406

Introduction: This study sought to determine the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome, one of the major public-health challenges worldwide, and its influencing factors among 15 to 17 years old adolescent girls in Mashhad, Iran.
Methods: A total of 622 high school adolescents participated in a cross-sectional study. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess socio-demographic characteristics and dietary habits. Anthropometric assessments, blood pressure measurement and biochemical assessment were done.
Results: Applying BMI Z-score for age and gender (WHO 2007), 14.6 % and 3.4 % of subjects were classified as overweight and obese, respectively. Enlarged WC (> 80 cm) was seen in 9.5% of subjects. The prevalence of combined hypertension was 6.1% which was increased by the severity of obesity. A total of 24.5% of subjects had hypertriglyceridemia and 57% of them had low level of HDL-cholesterol. Hyperglycemia was present in 16.7% of subjects. Based on the NCEP ATP III (2001) criteria, the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was 6.5% and increased to 45.1% in obese subjects. Increasing BMI or WC, led to significant increment in the number of metabolic syndrome features (p < 0.001). High socioeconomic status of family, medical history of parents and dietary habits especially high consumption of carbohydrates were influencing factors in the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome.
Conclusion: Approximately 6.5% of all and 45% of obese subjects met the criteria for the metabolic syndrome. Dietary habits especially carbohydrate consumption, socioeconomic status of family and medical history of parents can be influential factors in the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome.

Matched MeSH terms: Body Mass Index

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