This study was conducted to determine changes in nutrition knowledge, attitude and practice of 8-year-old school children after receiving a nutrition education package. A total of 418 school children from urban and rural areas participated in this study. The intervention group consisted of 237 children while 181 children who did not receive the nutrition education package acted as controls. The nutrition education programme that was conducted for 3 weeks comprised of a video viewing session and a comic reading session followed by exercise questions as reinforcement for each session, and also classroom activities. Knowledge, attitude and practice questionnaires were distributed to the children before (pre-intervention) and after (postintervention) receiving the nutrition education programme. A follow-up visit was conducted six months after the programme had elapsed. The results obtained indicated that the nutrition knowledge score increased significantly in the intervention group from 48.3±13.2 at pre-test to 54.6±16.2 in post-test and 55.0±14.3 in follow-up test (p<0.05). The nutrition attitude score also increased significantly from 68.7±15.5 at pre-intervention to 72.6±15.0 and 74.7±15.8 during post-test and follow-up test respectively (p<0.05). However, the nutrition practice score had no significant improvement in both groups throughout the study period. There were no significant changes in the control group in knowledge, attitude and practice scores at pre, post and follow-up tests. In conclusion, this study showed that a good nutrition education programme had a positive impact whereby better nutrition knowledge, attitude and healthy eating habits in children were seen. It is hoped that the improvements would be sustained throughout their lives.
Introduction: Cariogenic food intake and oral health knowledge, attitude and
practices (KAP) of parents are contributing factors that influence the oral health
status of children. As there is lack of a validated questionnaire in Bahasa Melayu
(the Malay language) to measure the factors, this cross-sectional study was
carried out to establish a linguistically valid and reliable cariogenic food frequency
questionnaire (M-CFFQ) and oral health kap questionnaire (M-OHKAPQ) in Bahasa
Melayu, for parents of children aged 6-11 years in Kota Bharu, Kelantan. Methods:
Relevant questionnaires in English were selected and translated to Malay language.
This process included forward translation, synthesis, backward translation and
consolidation to produce the preliminary drafts of M-CFFQ and M-OHKAPQ. Pretesting
was conducted on ten parents of children from a primary school in Kota
Bharu by face-to-face interview. The findings were reviewed to produce the final
versions of M-CFFQ and M-OHKAPQ. A test-retest reliability study was undertaken
involving 49 parents. The participants were asked to answer the final M-CFFQ and
M-OHKAPQ versions twice, within a 7-14 days interval. Data collected were entered
into IBM SPPS version 22 software and analysed using the Intraclass Correlation
Coefficient (ICC) test. Results: Semantic, idiomatic, experiential, conceptual as well
as content and face validity issues were successfully resolved. Fifteen categories
of food/drinks for M-CFFQ and 26 items/questions M-OHKAPQ were produced.
The total ICC values achieved for M-CFFQ and M-OHKAPQ were 0.887 and 0.807,
respectively. Conclusion: The M-CFFQ and M-OHKAPQ appeared to be linguistically
valid and reliable with excellent test-retest reliability (ICC>0.80).
Introduction: Individual differences pertaining to cognitive and affective processes toward job stress stimuli may influence food choice and intake, leading to overeating and obesity. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between job stress and abdominal obesity with anger as a personality trait and overeating as moderators among male workers in Malaysia.
Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 492 male employees from 33 private companies in various states in Malaysia. The companies and workers were approached by convenience sampling. Workers who fulfilled the study inclusion criteria completed validated questionnaires assessing job stress, anger as a personality trait and overeating, using the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory-Exhaustion, Spielberger Trait Anger Scale and Three Factor Eating Questionnaire-Uncontrolled, respectively. Weight, height and abdominal circumference were taken for each participant. Moderation effect analyses were conducted based on standard multiple regression.
Results: For two-way interaction, a significant curvilinear regression equation was found to predict overeating based on job stress as a predictor and anger as a moderator (β=0.93, SE=0.46, t=2.03, p=0.043). High anger was associated with higher overeating behaviour on exposure to high job stress level (F (7, 484) = 9.36, p
INTRODUCTION: Gout and hyperuricaemia attributed to genetic and lifestyle factors have been associated with several chronic diseases. This study aimed to determine the association and interaction effects between vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) gene polymorphisms (rs1870377 and rs2071559) and dietary patterns on blood uric acid in Malay and Indian adults.
METHODS: Dietary intakes of 153 Malays and 177 Indians were obtained using a food frequency questionnaire for the construction of dietary patterns using factor analysis. Genotyping of rs1870377 and rs2071559 was performed by real-time PCR using TaqMan probes. Anthropometric measurements, body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure and biomarkers, uric acid, glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and blood lipids were determined.
RESULTS: There were significant differences in the mean values for HbA1c (41±-12 vs 45±-8 mmol/mol, p<0.001) and blood lipids levels (p<0.05) between Malays and Indians. Significant correlations were obtained between uric acid with selected blood lipids (p<0.05) and BMI in Malays (r=0.362, p<0.001) and Indians (r=0.212, p<0.01). Four dietary patterns were extracted from dietary intakes of all subjects: ‘Vegetables diet’; ‘Fruits diet’ (FD); ‘Animal protein and rice diet’; and ‘Fast foods and preserved foods diet’. There were no significant associations between dietary patterns (p=0.054-0.609) and VEGFR-2 gene polymorphisms (p=0.348-0.778) with uric acid. In Malay subjects, the interaction of rs2071559 and FD had a borderline effect (p=0.05) on blood uric acid after adjusting for potential confounders.
CONCLUSION: The associations and gene-diet interactions involving VEGFR-2 gene polymorphisms and FD on uric acid provide new information on gout and hyperuricaemia risks in Malays.
Keywords: Gene-diet interaction, VEGFR-2 gene polymorphisms, dietary pattern, uric acid, Malaysians
This comparative study was conducted to determine the anthropometric measurements and body composition of football teams in the UK and Malaysia. A total of 32 footballers from two teams were studied. The teams were the St Mary's University team (UK) and the Selangor Reserved League team. The height and body weight of the subjects were measured using SECA digital balance with height attachment. Skinfold thickness measurements were taken using Harpenden skinfold callipers at four sites (biceps, triceps, subscapular and suprailiac) and the VO2max of the subjects was estimated by participation in a multi-stage 20m shuttle-run test. The UK team were significantly heavier (p<0.05), taller (p<0.05) and had a higher body fat content (p<0.05) than their Malaysian counterpart. There was no significant difference in VO2 max between the two teams, with the Malaysians recording a slightly higher VO2 max. With regard to playing position, the defenders were found to be the most physically robust and yet had the highest VO2 max, whilst the midfielders had the lightest body weights. More data on the body composition and nutritional status of Malaysian footballers would allow adjustments to be made to dietary intakes and training levels in order to obtain maximum performance throughout the football season.
Introduction: Shellfish is likely to be contaminated with heavy metals brought about by various environmental factors such as climate change, bioaccumulation of environmental contaminants and imbalanced natural ecosystem.
Methods: Shellfish were selected for heavy metal detection as they are mainly consumed by the locals in Kudat. Arsenic, Cadmium, Chromium, Nickel, and Plumbum (As, Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb) content in clam (Meretrix spp.), scallop (Amusium pleuronectes) and conch (Strombus canabrium) were determined by the US EPA 200.3 acid digestion method and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrophotometer (ICP-MS). Risk assessment was calculated to assess the total exposure of heavy metals among the population of Kudat.
Results: Among all the heavy metals, studied, As was found to have the highest concentration and this was found in scallop with the concentration level being 18.93±5.30 μg/g compared to clam and conch. Estimated daily intake of the heavy metals by the population ranged from 0.60-6.82 g/ day/ kg for As, 0.02-1.58μg/day/kg for Cd, 0.37-0.94μg/day/kg for Cr, 0.16-0.61 g/day/ kg for Ni and 0.10-0.25μg/day/kg for Pb based on previous calculation to exposure. The hazard quotient of As and Cd in scallop was greater than 1.0. No acceptable exposure level for these shellfish has been previously reported. The rate of consumption of these metals did not exceed the standards prescribed in the Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985.
Conclusion: Based on this study, it is concluded that the exposure to heavy metals risk from the consumption of these shellfish among the population in Kudat, Sabah is at an acceptable level.
Introduction: Appropriate oral health knowledge is essential to enable parents to be responsible for the oral health care of their children especially those with special needs. This study aimed to determine the oral health knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of parents and cariogenic food intake of their non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate children (NSCLP) compared to non-cleft children.
Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted on randomly selected parents with children aged 1 to 6 years at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia and Kota Bharu Dental Clinic. A face-to-face interview using a validated questionnaire on oral health KAP and cariogenic food intake of their children was done. Data were analysed by using IBM SPSS version 22.0.
Results: Sixty-four Malay parents with NSCLP (n=33) and non-cleft (n=31) children were recruited. The mean (SD) percentage score of oral health knowledge of parents in both groups (NSCLP and non-cleft) was fair, 59.5%(11.85) and 62.0%(15.00), P=0.4722; oral health attitude was good, 78.0% (9.30) and 80.2% (15.40), P=0.504; but oral health practice was poor 33.8% (5.94) and 36.1 (8.44), P=0.220. The cariogenic food frequency score was significantly higher in noncleft children; 40.2(10.32) compared to NSCLP children, 34.8(9.46), P=0.032.
Conclusions: Parents of both groups had fair knowledge and good attitude but poor oral health practice. Cariogenic foods were consumed more by the non-cleft children. Oral health awareness among the parents needs to be strengthened towards good oral health attitude and practice and non-cariogenic food choices for the betterment of oral health status of their children.
Introduction: Nutrient profiling is the science of ranking food based on the nutrient
content that enables an individual to make healthier food choice without exceeding
the daily energy recommendation. This study was aimed at developing and validating
a nutrient profiling model for Malaysian older population. Methods: A total of six
nutrient profiling models comprising different combinations of nutrients were
developed. Each model was tested by scoring 94 food items in terms of 100 kcal and
100 g, and the Recommended Nutrient Intakes for Malaysian (2017) as the reference
value. The scores in each model were correlated with energy density per 100 g of
food. The best model to correctly rank food according to nutrient density was chosen
for validation. Validation was done by comparing the healthiness classification of
174 food items as determined by Towards Useful Aging Food Nutrient Density Index
(TUA FNDI) nutrient profiling model and the Malaysian Dietary Guidelines. Results:
Models with sodium and total fat were better correlated with energy density. All
six models were inversely correlated with energy density. TUA FNDI 9-2 model was
chosen as the best model for validation. Overall, there was substantial agreement
between TUA FNDI 9-2 model and the food-based dietary guidelines (κ=0.644,
p=0.001). Conclusion: The inverse correlation between nutrient profiling models
to energy density shows that foods with higher nutrient density contain lower
energy. The validated TUA FNDI 9-2 model is recommended for older adults to make
healthier food choices.
Introduction: The refeeding programme in government hospitals is aimed at
improving the nutritional status of malnourished children with weight-for-height
z-score (WHZ) below -2.0, using special therapeutic food. However, there is a lack of
data on the nutritional status of indigenous (Orang Asli) children when they return
to the community after hospital discharge. Case presentation: A 3-year-old Temiar
boy residing in a tribal village in Hulu Perak was visited to determine his nutritional
status following discharge from a refeeding programme in a government hospital.
He was admitted to the hospital with a weight of 10.0 kg, height of 85.5 cm and
WHZ of -2.09. The boy was later discharged weighing 11.0 kg, and with height
unchanged at 85.5 cm and WHZ of -0.87. During our visit to the child’s home
three months after discharge, his weight was 9.5 kg, height 86.0 cm, and WHZ
–2.91. Discussion: The management of the case in the hospital was based on
the Malnourished Orang Asli Protocols of the hospital. Household food insecurity,
feeding and care practices, unhealthy household environment and the lack of
communication between hospital and community health services were all identified
as risk factors for malnutrition. Conclusion: The recurrence of malnutrition in this
child, after successful improvement during hospital stay, highlights the importance
of identifying factors that may affect nutritional status after hospital discharge. This
knowledge will be beneficial in planning specific interventions, especially for Orang
Asli children, living in remote villages.
Introduction: High sodium consumption over an extended period of time has been associated with hypertension, stroke, cardiovascular disease, renal damage, and other adverse health effects. This study aimed to determine urinary sodium excretion and consequently estimate dietary sodium consumption among normotensive health staff in Malaysia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to acquire data on sodium excretion among normotensive Ministry of Health staff aged 20 - 56 years (mean age 35.08, SD 9.78) in 14 states and a research institute. Respondents were recruited using quota sampling. Data collection was conducted from December 2011 to February 2012. A single urine sample was collected over 24 hours for sodium concentrations and calculated as 95.0% of total daily sodium intake. Results: Among the 471 enrolled respondents, 445 (94.0%) provided complete information on socio-demography and urine samples. Mean urine sodium excretion was 142.0 mmol/day (SD 71.7), which is equivalent to 3429 mg sodium/day or 8.7 gm of salt intake (1.75 teaspoon, which exceeds the Malaysian recommendation of 2000 mg sodium/day by 1.7 times. About 79.0% (n=353) of respondents (88.0% male and 73.0% female) had daily sodium consumption that was above the recommendation. Excretion was significantly higher among males at 161.7 mmol/day (SD 78.1) (3726 mg sodium/day) than females, 125.3 mmolfday (SD 61.1) (2875 mg/day). There was a positive, low correlation between BMl and sodium intake (r=0.216, p
Thirty-two samples of chocolate products were analysed by HPLC for caffeine and theobromine contents. Defatted residues of samples were extracted with 80% aqueous acetone. After extraction into boiling water, the methylxanthines were identified and quantified with the use of μ-Bondapak column and mobile phase of methanol:water:acetic acid (20:79:1). Levels of caffein and theobromine in 32 samples of chocolate products averaged 0.62-1.14 mg/g and 0.026-0.153 mg/g respectively. Mean values for theobromine and caffeine content for chocolate coating were 0.82 and 0.07 mg/g respectively. The chocolate coating made from fat substitute had theobromine and caffeine levels ranging from 0.36-0.70 mg/g and 0.027-0.061 mg/g respectively, with mean values of 0.49 mg theobromine/g and 0.039 mg caffeine/g. In local chocolate, the mean theobromine and caffeine levels respectively were 0.72 mg/g and 0.04 mg/g in milk chocolate, and 0.85 mg/g and 0.06 mg/g in dark chocolate. Meanwhile, for imported chocolate, the mean theobromine and caffeine levels respectively were 1.05 mg/g and 0.12 mg/g in dark chocolate; 0.76 mg/g and 0.04 mg/g in milk chocolate; and 0.74 mg/g and 0.03 mg/g in white chocolate. Compared with the local chocolates, imported chocolates had higher levels of theobromine and caffeine at 1.141 mg/g and 0.1533mg/g. The average theobromine and caffeine concentrations in local chocolate were 0.082mg/g and 0.066mg/g. Theobromine concentration in chocolate samples is within the range of 0.62mg/g-1.141mg/g and the range of caffeine concentration is 0.026mg/g-0.153mg/g respectively. Bittersweet chocolates were found to have higher theobromine and caffeine concentrations than normal sweet chocolates and milk chocolates.
Colorectal adenomas are precursor lesions of colorectal cancer. Several studies have proposed that obesity is a risk factor for colorectal adenoma. This case-control study examined the relationship between body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waistto-hip ratio (WHR), body fat percentage and colorectal adenomatous polyps (CRA) in patients who have had a colonoscopy at the Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL). Fifty-nine patients (42 males and 17 females) positively identified as having CRA and 59 polypfree subjects were recruited as controls (33 males and 26 females). A pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect socio-economic information, while anthropometric measurements were determined directly by established methods. The mean BMI of female case subjects was significantly higher than control females (25.63 + 4.87 kg/m2 vs. 23.86 + 3.70 kg/m2, p<0.05) but the difference in BMI was not significant in men. The mean WHR of male subjects was significantly higher in the case group (0.92 + 0.07 vs. 0.90 + 0.06, p<0.05). After adjusting for confounders, waist circumference was the only indicator that was found to significantly increase the risk for CRA in women (OR = 6.349, 95% CI = 1.063 - 37.919). Higher BMI, WHR and body fat percentage showed a non-significant risk in female subjects. In men, none of the obesity indicators were found to be significant risk factors for CRA. These findings suggest that abdominal obesity may be a contributing factor to CRA risk particularly in women. A prospective study is needed to confirm the role of obesity in the development of CRA in Malaysians.
This paper sheds light on infectious diseases and the status of malnutrition in Nepal, a Himalayan country located in South Asia. In spite of efforts by both Government and non-government sectors, infectious diseases are rampant in the countries constituting a major cause of morbidity and mortality, which in turn, impose a socio-economic and public health burden for the country. Intestinal parasitic infection has been implicated in the causation of malnutrition. Malnutrition associated with child mortality is more common among children aged less than five years. Nepalese women suffer from chronic malnutrition. People in rural areas are more affected by malnutrition than those in urban areas. This has been attributed to poverty, lack of education, and rampant infectious diseases.
Metabolic syndrome was once reported only in adults but is now occurring more frequently in children. This study compared the incidence of metabolic syndrome and its components among normal and obese children using the 2007 International Diabetes Federation (IDF) pediatric definition for metabolic syndrome. Subjects comprised 78 school children aged 8-10 years, with 34 obese and 44 normal weight children. Body weight, height, and waist circumference (WC) were measured and body mass index was calculated. Clinical profiles measured included fasting blood glucose, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, and blood pressure. Metabolic syndrome (MS) was defined using the 2007 IDF pediatric criteria. Obese subjects had a significantly (p< 0.001) higher mean BMI (26.0 ± 3.6 kg/m2) compared to normal weight subjects (15.1 ± 0.8 kg/m2). Only one obese subject (1.3% of subjects) had metabolic syndrome based on the IDF definition, but all obese subjects had at least one component of metabolic syndrome. In comparison, no normal weight subjects had metabolic syndrome and only 9.1% of normal weight subjects had at least one component of metabolic syndrome. The most common component was central obesity, observed in 43.6% of subjects having WC equal to or greater than the 90th percentile. In concurrence with central obesity as the core feature of the IDF criteria, WC showed the strongest correlation with indicators of obesity such as BMI (r=0.938, p< 0.001), fat mass (r=0.912, p< 0.001) and fat-free mass (r=0.863, p< 0.001). We conclude that the problem of metabolic syndrome is more prominent among obese children, although the incidence of MS as defined by the 2007 pediatric IDF criteria, is low in this population (1.3%).
Globally, rotaviral vaccines in use today have contributed to the reduction of the incidence of rotaviral diarrhoeas. Despite the substantial protection conferred by the current vaccines against the rotaviral strains, it is only prudent to recognise that other protective factors, like breastfeeding, also provide some degree of protection against this disease. This article has attempted to review some important mechanisms of protection in breast milk against the rotaviruses and highlight the oft forgotten non-immunoglobulin fraction in breast milk as an additional tool of protection against rotavirus disease. The adaptive capacity of breast milk to environment is another compelling reason to continue breastfeeding as it can usefully complement and be significant in the use of many vaccines. Vital immunoprotective constituents in breast milk beneficially protect the infant by initiating and strengthening many immune responses and should be borne in mind as essential tools of defence even in an era where vaccines play a pivotal role in the combat against certain diseases. It is impressive that besides nutritive advantages, the suckling infant enjoys appreciable immunoprotection via exclusive breastfeeding.
It is universally known that breastfeeding provides a broad spectrum of nutritional and non-nutritional advantages to the developing infant. Nonnutritive protecting potentials of breast milk towards different infections and non-infectious diseases are still attracting the attention of researchers in different specialties. The neonate, who is suddenly exposed to a wide variety of organisms, is in dire need of protection, enhancement and education of his immature immune system to encounter these organisms. The lactating mammary gland is an integral part of the common mucosal immune system which stands as a sentinel in combating pathogens that enter the body via the mucosal route. The common mucosal immune system also competently controls tolerance mechanisms to innocent proteins and is involved in surveillance of carcinogensis. The diverse roles of general mucosal immunity are nearly well established but the specialised functions of breast tissue and breast milk in boosting the immune responses need more emphasis and highlighting. The detailed understanding and evaluation of breast milk as an immunological tool is reviewed within the domain of the diverse activities of the common mucosal immune system.
Body image plays an important role in the management of body weight, especially among female adolescents. This study examined the differences in body image perception, weight management knowledge, eating behaviour and physical activity between overweight and normal weight Malaysian female adolescents. Body mass index screening was done on 588 secondary school students to identify overweight (OW) and normal weight (NW) subjects. A BMI-for-age of => 85th percentile and between => 5th and <85th percentile were used as cut-offs for identifying suitable subjects of overweight and normal weight, respectively. Fifty girls identified as being OW were matched for age and ethnicity with 50 NW students. Subjects completed a self-administered questionnaire on demographics, eating behaviour and physical activity, a weight management knowledge inventory (WMKI) and the Body Silhouette Chart. The study sample comprised Malays (40%), Chinese (30%) and Indians (30%) with a mean age of 14.76 ± 1.15 years. The majority of them were from families with a monthly household income of less than RM1,000. Significantly more NW subjects (χ2=6.112, p=0.013) than OW subjects had incorrect perception of their current body weight status. The WMKI revealed that more OW subjects (64%) than NW subjects (52%) had a low level of weight management knowledge. Eating behaviour patterns were not significantly different between OW and NW subjects, but more OW subjects skipped one or more daily meals as compared to their NW counterparts (χ2=0.174, p=0.010). Physical activity patterns were similar in both groups. Healthy eating and physical activity promotion programmes in schools should include sound weight management practices.
Questionnaire: Figure Rating Scale of Stunkard; Weight Management Knowledge Inventory (WMKI)
Early childhood is a period during which many factors influence the development of lifelong eating habits. This study aimed to assess the nutritional status of young children and to determine factors related to eating habits.
Traditionally, Chinese women adhere to special dietary practices during the month following childbirth. This paper discusses the dietary practices and food taboos practised by Chinese women in Kuala Lumpur. A total of 134 Chinese mothers of children below one year were recruited from three Maternal and Child Health Clinics and Maternity Hospital, Kuala Lumpur. Questionnaires and in-depth interviews were used to obtain information on socioeconomic background, dietary practices, food taboos and cooking methods during the confinement period. Food intake was assessed by multiple 24-hour dietary recall among 34 mothers during their confinement month (zuo yuezi). Body weight and height were measured, and body mass index calculated. Majority of the respondents had secondary school education (77.6%), household income between RM1001 and RM3000 (64%), and were homemakers (48.5%). The women were aged 18-39 years, and 68% were of normal weight. Most women (82%) practised 30 days of confinement, during which they adhered to special dietary practices. The diet was directed at attaining yin-yang (cold-hot) balance, whereby “hot†foods were most commonly used and “cold†foods were avoided. Ginger, rice wine and sesame seed oil, considered “hot†foods, were used in large amounts in the cooking. Rice, chicken and pork were also consumed in large amounts. Most vegetables and fruits were considered “cold†and were prohibited during confinement. Most mothers drank specially-prepared teas boiled from Chinese herbs. Mean energy intake was 19% below RNI, while mean protein intake was 93% above RNI (NCCFN, 2005). Mean intakes of thiamin, riboflavin and niacin were above 75% of RNI, while vitamins A and C were at half of RNI or less. Mean iron and calcium intakes were at 222% and 67% of RNI, respectively. It is concluded that most Chinese women in Kuala Lumpur do conform to special dietary practices during zuo yuezi.
Study site: three Maternal and Child Health Clinics and Maternity Hospital, Kuala Lumpur
A longitudinal study was conducted to relate basal metabolic rate (BMR) with growth during adolescence. Subjects comprise 70 boys and 69 girls aged between ten and thirteen years at the time of recruitment. Parameters studied include anthropometric measurements and BMR, which was measured by indirect calorimetry using the Deltatrac metabolic monitor. Measurements were carried out serially once every six months, with a total of 713 BMR data points collected over three years. Mean BMR of boys aged 11, 12, 13 and 14 years were 4.96 ± 0.63 MJ/day, 5.28 ± 0.71 MJ/day, 5.73 ± 0.68 MJ/day and 5.92 ± 0.63 MJ/day, respectively; while mean BMR of girls in the 10, 11, 12 and 13 year age groups were 4.96 ± 0.63 MJ/day, 4.85 ± 0.63 MJ/day, 5.05 ± 0.55 MJ/day and 4.94 ± 0.51 MJ/day, respectively. Comparison of measured BMR with BMR values predicted from the FAO/WHO/UNU (1985) equations shows that the predictive equations overestimated the BMR of Malaysian boys by 3% and that of girls by 5%. The Henry and Rees (1991) equations for populations in the tropics underestimated BMR of boys and girls by 1% and 2%, respectively. Linear regression equations to predict BMR based on body weight were derived according to sex and age groups. It is recommended that these predictive equations be used for the estimation of BMR of Malaysian adolescents.