Displaying publications 1 - 20 of 433 in total

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  1. Chen PCY
    Med J Malaysia, 1985 Jun;40(2):60-1.
    PMID: 3834288
    Matched MeSH terms: Life Style*
  2. Suleiman AB, Tee ES
    Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 1998 Dec;7(3/4):230-7.
    PMID: 24393676
    There are significant differences in the food consumption patterns of countries. In the lower income countries, most of the energy intake is derived from cereals and starchy roots. On the other hand, the intake of these carbohydrate foods is much lower in the economically developed countries and more of the energy is derived from added fats, alcohol, meat, dairy products and sweeteners. The contribution of energy from various food groups has changed markedly over the past three decades. With increasing national wealth there is a general tendency for the consumption of cereal foods to decline, whereas the consumption of added fats, alcohol, meat and dairy products has increased over the years. Similar changes have also been observed for Malaysia. These dietary alterations, as well as other lifestyle changes, have brought about a new nutrition scenario in many developing countries. These countries are now faced with the twin problems of malnutrition, that is, undernutrition among some segments of the population and diet-related chronic diseases in other groups; for example, obesity, hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes and various cancers. In Malaysia, deaths due to diseases of the circulatory system and neoplasms have been on the rise since the 1960s. The former has been the most important cause of death in the country for more than 15 years, with cancer ranking third for almost 10 years. Epidemiological data collected from different community groups showed increased prevalences of various risk factors amongst Malaysians. In view of the changed nutrition scenario in the country, intervention programmes have been reviewed accordingly. The Healthy Lifestyle (HLS) Programme was launched in 1991 as a comprehensive, long-term approach to combating the emerging diet-related chronic diseases. For six consecutive years one thematic campaign per year was carried out; namely, coronary heart disease (1991), sexually transmitted diseases (1992), food safety (1993), childhood diseases (1994), cancers (1995) and diabetes mellitus (1996). To further strengthen health promotion among the community, another series of activities to be carried out under the second phase of the HLS programme from 1997 to 2002 was launched within the framework of the National Plan of Action on Nutrition (NPAN) for Malaysia. In view of the importance of diet and nutrition in the causation and prevention of chronic diseases, the theme for the first year of this phase was Healthy Eating. It is clear that nutrition education for the community in order to inculcate a culture of healthy eating is the long-term solution. A series of guidelines have been prepared for dissemination to the public via a variety of media and approaches, and with the collaboration of various government and non-governmental organisations. The implementation of the programme is, however, a challenge to health and nutrition workers. There is a need to examine the strategies for nutrition education to ensure more effective dissemination of information. The challenge is to determine how best to promote healthy eating within the present scenerio of rapid urbanisation, 'western' dietary pattern influence, a whole barrage of convenience and 'health' foods, and nutrition misinformation. We would like to share our experiences in the approaches taken and our concerns with other countries in the region given that various opportunities exist for collaboration.
    Matched MeSH terms: Life Style*
  3. Abdul Razack AH
    JUMMEC, 2007;10(1):1-2.
    MyJurnal
    Healthy lifestyle issues have been very much in the news in both the lay press and the medical journals. The incidence of chronic non-communicable diseases is increasing worldwide and it is no different in Malaysia. Preventing and decreasing the incidence is related to lifestyle issues.
    Matched MeSH terms: Life Style
  4. Sam KK, Lau NS, Furusawa G, Amirul AA
    Genome Announc, 2017 Oct 19;5(42).
    PMID: 29051257 DOI: 10.1128/genomeA.01147-17
    Hahella sp. strain CCB-MM4 is a halophilic bacterium isolated from estuarine mangrove sediment. The genome sequence of Hahella sp. CCB-MM4 provides insights into exopolysaccharide biosynthesis and the lifestyle of the bacterium thriving in a saline mangrove environment.
    Matched MeSH terms: Life Style
  5. Charchar FJ, Prestes PR, Mills C, Ching SM, Neupane D, Marques FZ, et al.
    J Hypertens, 2024 Jan 01;42(1):23-49.
    PMID: 37712135 DOI: 10.1097/HJH.0000000000003563
    Hypertension, defined as persistently elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP) >140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) at least 90 mmHg (International Society of Hypertension guidelines), affects over 1.5 billion people worldwide. Hypertension is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events (e.g. coronary heart disease, heart failure and stroke) and death. An international panel of experts convened by the International Society of Hypertension College of Experts compiled lifestyle management recommendations as first-line strategy to prevent and control hypertension in adulthood. We also recommend that lifestyle changes be continued even when blood pressure-lowering medications are prescribed. Specific recommendations based on literature evidence are summarized with advice to start these measures early in life, including maintaining a healthy body weight, increased levels of different types of physical activity, healthy eating and drinking, avoidance and cessation of smoking and alcohol use, management of stress and sleep levels. We also discuss the relevance of specific approaches including consumption of sodium, potassium, sugar, fibre, coffee, tea, intermittent fasting as well as integrated strategies to implement these recommendations using, for example, behaviour change-related technologies and digital tools.
    Matched MeSH terms: Life Style
  6. Cheah YK
    Malays J Med Sci, 2013 Jan;20(1):46-55.
    PMID: 23613658 MyJurnal
    In light of the fact that chronic diseases were becoming more prevalent recently, the primary objective of the study was to examine the socio-demographic, health, and lifestyle determinants of the use of preventive medical care in Penang, Malaysia.
    Matched MeSH terms: Life Style
  7. Sing KW, Dong H, Wang WZ, Wilson JJ
    Genome, 2016 Sep;59(9):751-61.
    PMID: 27314400 DOI: 10.1139/gen-2015-0192
    During 30 years of unprecedented urbanization, plant diversity in Shenzhen, a young megacity in southern China, has increased dramatically. Although strongly associated with plant diversity, butterfly diversity generally declines with urbanization, but this has not been investigated in Shenzhen. Considering the speed of urbanization in Shenzhen and the large number of city parks, we investigated butterfly diversity in Shenzhen parks. We measured butterfly species richness in four microhabitats (groves, hedges, flowerbeds, and unmanaged areas) across 10 parks and examined the relationship with three park variables: park age, park size, and distance from the central business district. Butterflies were identified based on wing morphology and DNA barcoding. We collected 1933 butterflies belonging to 74 species from six families; 20% of the species were considered rare. Butterfly species richness showed weak negative correlations with park age and distance from the central business district, but the positive correlation with park size was statistically significant (p = 0.001). Among microhabitat types, highest species richness was recorded in unmanaged areas. Our findings are consistent with others in suggesting that to promote urban butterfly diversity it is necessary to make parks as large as possible and to set aside areas for limited management. In comparison to neighbouring cities, Shenzhen parks have high butterfly diversity.
    Matched MeSH terms: Life Style*
  8. Zarei M, Taib MN, Zarei F
    Electron Physician, 2013;5(3):687-97.
    PMID: 26120404 DOI: 10.14661/2013.687-697
    BACKGROUND: A student's lifestyle can change notably in a foreign country. The objective of this study was to determine factors associated with the body weight status of Iranian postgraduate students in Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) 2009.
    METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire was administered to 210 Iranian postgraduate students at UPM. Anthropometric factors also were measured using standard procedures. Body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) also were calculated. The chi-squared test, Spearman's rho, and the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient were used to determine the associations between the variables that were studied. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to measure the amount of influence a predictor variable had on a outcome variable.
    RESULTS: There was no significant correlation between nutritional knowledge (P > 0.05), weight-management knowledge (P > 0.05), and smoking (P > 0.05) and BMI. There were statistically significant correlations between gender (P < 0.01), physical activity (P < 0.05), protein (P < 0.01), carbohydrate (P < 0.01), fat (P < 0.01), fiber (P < 0.01), vitamin C (P < 0.05), calcium (P < 0.01), and iron (P < 0.01) and BMI. There were also relationships between body fat (P < 0.01), waist circumference (P < 0.01), hip circumference (P < 0.01) and WHR (P < 0.01) and BMI.
    CONCLUSION: Our findings showed the need for a nutrition promotion program for the Iranian students to help them change their negative food habits and improve their lifestyles.
    KEYWORDS: Body weight; Dietary intake; Iran; Life style; Malaysia
    Matched MeSH terms: Life Style*
  9. Wang C, Hu B, Rangarajan S, Bangdiwala SI, Lear SA, Mohan V, et al.
    Sleep Med, 2021 04;80:265-272.
    PMID: 33610073 DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2021.01.057
    OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the association of bedtime with mortality and major cardiovascular events.

    METHODS: Bedtime was recorded based on self-reported habitual time of going to bed in 112,198 participants from 21 countries in the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study. Participants were prospectively followed for 9.2 years. We examined the association between bedtime and the composite outcome of all-cause mortality, non-fatal myocardial infarction, stroke and heart failure. Participants with a usual bedtime earlier than 10PM were categorized as 'earlier' sleepers and those who reported a bedtime after midnight as 'later' sleepers. Cox frailty models were applied with random intercepts to account for the clustering within centers.

    RESULTS: A total of 5633 deaths and 5346 major cardiovascular events were reported. A U-shaped association was observed between bedtime and the composite outcome. Using those going to bed between 10PM and midnight as the reference group, after adjustment for age and sex, both earlier and later sleepers had a higher risk of the composite outcome (HR of 1.29 [1.22, 1.35] and 1.11 [1.03, 1.20], respectively). In the fully adjusted model where demographic factors, lifestyle behaviors (including total sleep duration) and history of diseases were included, results were greatly attenuated, but the estimates indicated modestly higher risks in both earlier (HR of 1.09 [1.03-1.16]) and later sleepers (HR of 1.10 [1.02-1.20]).

    CONCLUSION: Early (10 PM or earlier) or late (Midnight or later) bedtimes may be an indicator or risk factor of adverse health outcomes.

    Matched MeSH terms: Life Style*
  10. Král D, Hájek J
    Zookeys, 2015.
    PMID: 26692807 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.532.6116
    A new species of the genus Cheleion Vårdal & Forshage, 2010, Cheleion jendeki sp. n., from Johor, Malaysia is described, illustrated and compared with the type species of the genus, Cheleion malayanum Vårdal & Forshage, 2010. Photographs of the two species are presented. The adaptation to inquilinous lifestyle of Cheleion is compared with those in other beetle groups and briefly discussed.
    Matched MeSH terms: Life Style
  11. Kalai Chelvam K, Chai LC, Thong KL
    Gut Pathog, 2014;6(1):2.
    PMID: 24499680 DOI: 10.1186/1757-4749-6-2
    Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi) exhibits unique characteristics as an intracellular human pathogen. It causes both acute and chronic infection with various disease manifestations in the human host only. The principal factors underlying the unique lifestyle of motility and biofilm forming ability of S. Typhi remain largely unknown. The main objective of this study was to explore and investigate the motility and biofilm forming behaviour among S. Typhi strains of diverse background.
    Matched MeSH terms: Life Style
  12. Leisegang K, Dutta S
    Andrologia, 2021 Feb;53(1):e13595.
    PMID: 32330362 DOI: 10.1111/and.13595
    Alongside an increasing prevalence of couple and male infertility, evidence suggests there is a global declining trend in male fertility parameters over the past few decades. This may, at least in part, be explained through detrimental lifestyle practices and exposures. These include alcohol and tobacco consumption, use of recreational drugs (e.g., cannabis, opioids and anabolic steroids), poor nutritional habits, obesity and metabolic syndrome, genital heat stress (e.g., radiation exposure through cell phones and laptops, prolonged periods of sitting, tight-fitting underwear and recurrent hot baths or saunas), exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (e.g., pesticide residue, bisphenol A, phthalates and dioxins) and psychological stress. This review discusses these lifestyle practices and the current evidence associated with male infertility. Furthermore, known mechanisms of action are also discussed for each of these. Common mechanisms associated with a reduction in spermatogenesis and/or steroidogenesis due to unfavourable lifestyle practices include inflammation and oxidative stress locally or systemically. It is recommended that relevant lifestyle practices are investigated in clinical history of male infertility cases, particularly in unexplained or idiopathic male infertility. Appropriate modification of detrimental lifestyle practices is further suggested and recommended in the management of male infertility.
    Matched MeSH terms: Life Style
  13. AKMAL NOR WAJIHAH BINTI AHMAD
    MyJurnal
    Technology is a tool that influences today’s lifestyle especially in the employment sector. The use of technology in employment may help in increasing the worker’s appraisal. The efficiency can be measured based on the increase of the productivity and the acceptance in using this system to help in upgrading the quality of the product output. It also assists in communication, increasing the worker’s integrity, productivity and the spread of information.
    Matched MeSH terms: Life Style
  14. Khongtong, J., Ab Karim, S., Othman, M., Bolong, J.
    MyJurnal
    Street food in NST province is crucial for the people due to the changing of lifestyles. The
    consumers demand enhances the number of street vendors in the province. Nevertheless, there
    are vendors that are not practicing good hygienic compared to other province. The objectives
    of this study are to identify the pattern of street food consumption, and consumers’ opinion
    towards the street food. Observation and in-depth interview were used to collect data. Ten
    respondents with various demographic backgrounds were interviewed on their experiences,
    and opinions toward street food. The data found that the street food consuming pattern was
    formed in six major themes: consumer characteristic, type of food, location, time of consuming,
    ways to consume and reasons of consuming. Additionally, the study also declared consumer’s
    opinion on the problems related to street food. The finding aims local authority to have more
    understanding on the culture of street food consumption, and the problems that have been
    existed to find the appropriate improvement, and do not induce any conflict between local
    authority with street vendors and authority with consumers.
    Matched MeSH terms: Life Style
  15. Hussin R, Aziz AFA, Ali MF, Monoto EMM, Arvinder-Singh HS, Alabed AAA, et al.
    BMC Prim Care, 2023 Sep 08;24(1):181.
    PMID: 37684626 DOI: 10.1186/s12875-023-02138-x
    BACKGROUND: In countries where access to Specialist stroke care services are limited, primary care physicians often manage stroke patients and the caregiving family members. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of Stroke Riskometer Application (SRA™) on promoting healthier lifestyles among familial stroke caregivers for primary prevention.

    METHODS: A parallel, open-label, 2-arm prospective, pilot randomised controlled trial was conducted at a long-term stroke service at a university based primary care clinic. All stroke caregivers aged ≥ 18 years, proficient in English or Malay and smartphone operation were invited. From 147 eligible caregivers, 76 participants were randomised to either SRA™ intervention or conventional care group (CCG) after receiving standard health counselling. The intervention group had additional SRA™ installed on their smartphones, which enabled self-monitoring of modifiable and non-modifiable stroke risk factors. The Stroke Riskometer app (SRATM) and Life's Simple 7 (LS7) questionnaires assessed stroke risk and lifestyle practices. Changes in clinical profile, lifestyle practices and calculated stroke risk were analysed at baseline and 3 months. The trial was registered in the Australia-New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry, ACTRN12618002050235.

    RESULTS: The demographic and clinical characteristics of the intervention and control group study participants were comparable. Better improvement in LS7 scores were noted in the SRA™ arm compared to CCG at 3 months: Median difference (95% CI) = 0.88 (1.68-0.08), p = 0.03. However, both groups did not show significant changes in median stroke risk and relative risk scores at 5-, 10-years (Stroke risk 5-years: Median difference (95% CI) = 0.53 (0.15-1.21), p = 0.13, 10-years: Median difference (95% CI) = 0.81 (0.53-2.15), p = 0.23; Relative risk 5-years: Median difference (95% CI) = 0.84 (0.29-1.97), p = 0.14, Relative risk 10-years: Median difference (95% CI) = 0.58 (0.36-1.52), p = 0.23).

    CONCLUSION: SRA™ is a useful tool for familial stroke caregivers to make lifestyle changes, although it did not reduce personal or relative stroke risk after 3 months usage.

    TRIAL REGISTRATION: No: ACTRN12618002050235 (Registration Date: 21st December 2018).

    Matched MeSH terms: Life Style
  16. Khor BH, Sumida K, Scholes-Robertson N, Chan M, Lambert K, Kramer H, et al.
    Semin Nephrol, 2023 Mar;43(2):151404.
    PMID: 37598539 DOI: 10.1016/j.semnephrol.2023.151404
    Nutrition is an integral component in the management of chronic kidney disease (CKD), and kidney health professionals play a crucial role in educating patients on dietary interventions for CKD. Several dietary modifications are indicated for CKD that require frequent adaptations with CKD progression and with underlying metabolic disturbances. However, poor adherence to dietary interventions is not uncommon among patients with CKD. An effective education program on nutrition intervention consists of providing knowledge and developing skills that are necessary to support behavioral change. The application of theoretical models of behavioral change such as social cognitive theory and the transtheoretical model in nutrition intervention has been reported to be effective in promoting changes in dietary habits. This review summarizes the evidence supporting the application of theoretical models as strategies to enhance nutrition education for patients with CKD. In addition, digital technologies are gaining interest in empowering patients and facilitating nutrition management in patients with CKD. This review also examines the applications of the latest digital technologies guided by behavioral theory in facilitating patients' changes in dietary intake patterns and lifestyle habits.
    Matched MeSH terms: Life Style
  17. Folayan A, Cheong MWL, Fatt QK, Su TT
    J Public Health (Oxf), 2024 Feb 23;46(1):e91-e105.
    PMID: 38084086 DOI: 10.1093/pubmed/fdad247
    BACKGROUND: Although health insurance (HI) has effectively mitigated healthcare financial burdens, its contribution to healthy lifestyle choices and the presence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is not well established. We aimed to systematically review the existing evidence on the effect of HI on healthy lifestyle choices and NCDs.

    METHODS: A systematic review was conducted across PubMed, Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library and CINAHLComplet@EBSCOhost from inception until 30 September 2022, capturing studies that reported the effect of HI on healthy lifestyle and NCDs. A narrative synthesis of the studies was done. The review concluded both longitudinal and cross-sectional studies. A critical appraisal checklist for survey-based studies and the National Institutes of Health Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies were used for the quality assessment.

    RESULT: Twenty-four studies met the inclusion criteria. HI was associated with the propensity to engage in physical activities (6/11 studies), consume healthy diets (4/7 studies), not to smoke (5/11 studies) or take alcohol (5/10 studies). Six (of nine) studies showed that HI coverage was associated with a lowered prevalence of NCDs.

    CONCLUSION: This evidence suggests that HI is beneficial. More reports showed that it propitiated a healthy lifestyle and was associated with a reduced prevalence of NCDs.

    Matched MeSH terms: Life Style
  18. Lim GP, Appalasamy JR, Ahmad B, Quek KF, Ramadas A
    BMC Public Health, 2024 Mar 14;24(1):812.
    PMID: 38486215 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18328-w
    BACKGROUND: Peer-led lifestyle interventions have gained recognition as effective approaches for managing and preventing chronic diseases. However, there remains a critical knowledge gap regarding the impact and effectiveness of peer-led interventions specifically in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Our systematic review aims to synthesise the available evidence and evaluate the impact of peer-led lifestyle interventions, providing invaluable insights that can guide the development of peer-led strategies for preventing CVD.

    METHODS: Systematic database searches were conducted on Ovid Medline, Embase, Cochrane Centre for Controlled Trials, PubMed and Scopus to source peer-reviewed articles published between 2013 and 2023. Reference lists of the included publications were also manually searched.

    RESULTS: Fourteen unique randomised controlled trials were identified, of which three were pilot studies. Most of the interventions were conducted among individuals at moderate to high risk of CVD and lasted for a year. There is a variety of components in intervention delivery, including group discussions and individual counselling. Peer leader training mostly covered intervention delivery, communication, and research-specific skills. Systolic blood pressure showed the most promising CVD-related improvement, while mixed results were found for several other dietary and lifestyle behavioural outcomes.

    CONCLUSION: Peer-led lifestyle interventions have shown varying effectiveness in cardiovascular health outcomes. The competencies and roles of peer leaders were identified to guide future intervention development with a more comprehensive approach to the primary prevention of CVD.

    Matched MeSH terms: Life Style
  19. Selvaratnam DP, Poo BT
    Ann N Y Acad Sci, 2007 Oct;1114:317-25.
    PMID: 17986592 DOI: 10.1196/annals.1396.025
    Malaysia is steadily progressing toward an aging population demographic pattern. While aging is a natural process, its impact can be painful individually as well as for the nation. Individually there is a loss of a paying job after retirement, loss of physical and mental fitness, and also occasionally the loss of social integration due to lack of mobility. For a nation, an aging population means a growing dependency ratio, a greater need of care, and more medical facilities for this age group. This article looks at the various economic and social implications of the aging population in Malaysia in general, and in the rural and urban setting specifically. The paper focuses on a research sample of 132 (66 rural, 66 urban) elderly persons. The findings suggest that the demographic patterns of the elderly vary from the rural to the urban setting, with differing issues that need to be addressed to alleviate problems encountered related to loneliness, lack of financial stability, and emotional strain. Policy suggestion will be geared toward providing a solution to problems at hand as well as aiding the working group members to prepare and sustain a comfortable livelihood for the aged in their later years.
    Matched MeSH terms: Life Style*
  20. Chen PCY
    Asia Pac J Public Health, 1987;1(1):34-7.
    PMID: 3452377 DOI: 10.1177/101053958700100109
    Unlike much of Peninsular Malaysia, the Baram District of Sarawak remains sparsely populated and underserved, one of the most underserved peoples being the nomadic and semi-nomadic Penans of the Baram. Until quite recently these Penans lived as small nomadic bands of hunter-gatherers. More recently, they have begun to settle in longhouses. However, lacking the necessary skills to live a settled mode of life, these Penans suffer a great deal of hunger, malnutrition, disease and death. Primary health care with its emphasis on the seven essential elements, including food production and nutrition, environmental sanitation, good maternal and child health, knowledge of disease and how it can be prevented as well as the treatment and control of locally endemic diseases, is of critical value in the survival of the semi-nomadic Penans. The specially designed primary health care programme for the Penans of the Baram is outlined briefly in this paper.
    Keyword: Baram, Penans, Primary Health Care, Sarawak, Village Health Promoter.
    Matched MeSH terms: Life Style*
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