Introduction: Childhood malnutrition is common and severe among indigenous community. The Community Feed-ing Program was first launched in 2010 among 15 villages in Kemar indigenous settlement among children below six years old. The objective of this study was to improve the nutrition status of indigenous children in Kemar settlement, Hulu Perak. Methods: All the indigenous children aged below six received high calorie food, full cream milk and multivitamin with an average of 500kcal/day. Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), specified for malnourished children, provides nutrition that accounts for one-half to two-thirds of a child’s daily needs. The feeding sessions was carried out once a day, five days a week and managed by a group of trained local volunteers and research assistants. Weight and height were measured monthly. Results: The coverage throughout 2013 to 2018, ranged from 90.3% to 100%. The percentage of children with normal body weight had increased from only 38.7 % in 2010 to 60.6% in 2018. From year 2013 to 2018, the percentage of stunted children had reduced from 77% to 72.5%, and severe stunting reduced from 35.2% in 2015 to 24.9% in 2018. Conclusion: The continuity of this program is essential to sustain normal nutritional status and hence the wellbeing of this group of children in the interior remote community.
This study investigated how dissatisfaction with various aspects of the body is associated with overall body dissatisfaction among female adolescents in Western and Asian cultures. Data used in the study were obtained from 58 Malaysian Malays, 95 Malaysian Chinese, 242 Chinese from China, and 81 non-Asian Australians aged 12-19 years (M=15.72, SD=1.72) who were recruited from high schools. Participants completed a questionnaire assessing dissatisfaction with their body overall, and dissatisfaction with varying aspects of their body. Malaysian Chinese were the most dissatisfied with their bodies. After controlling for body mass index (BMI), age and dissatisfaction with weight/shape, upper, middle and lower body, and muscles, dissatisfaction with the face was positively correlated with overall body dissatisfaction among Malaysian Malays and Australians. These findings demonstrate the importance of using assessment measures that address all possible areas of body focus as well as being tailored to the relevant culture.
Introduction: Obesity is a major public health concern worldwide. The increasing prevalence of obesity in all ages can cause chronic illnesses, such as Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Cardiovascular Diseases. The Body Mass Index (BMI) is generally used to classify an adult population as underweight (BMI =25.0 kgm-2) or obese (BMI >=30.0 kgm-2). The normal BMI range lies between 18.5 and 24.99 kgm-2. Physical activity is an important component of lifestyle interventions for weight loss and the prevention of weight regain. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of physical activity in reducing the obesity among the selected participants in Taman Impian Ehsan, Hulu Langat. Methods: This study was a one-group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design. The physical activity program took place three times a week for six months started from June to December 2018 which is a part of KOSPEN activity. Results: Thirty participants were recruited in the program. For pre- intervention study, 4 participants have normal body weight (BMI 18.5-24.99), 12 participants were overweight (BMI 26.0 to 30.0kgm-2) and 14 participants were obese (BMI > =30.0 kgm-2). Twenty six of participants were retained in the program while the rest quitted. Post-intervention study shows that seven participants have normal BMI, 10 partici-pants were still overweight and nine participants still categorized as obese. Post-intervention study showed that 17 participants managed to lose weight with minimum of 1.2 kg and maximum of 22.6 kg. The average reduction of the body weight was 5%. Conclusion: Physical activity is one of most feasible approach that can assist communities in developing healthy behaviours that promote weight loss and maintain ideal body weight.
Introduction: Obesity has been recognized as a major public health concern due to lack of physical activity and a sedentary lifestyle. Methods: This cross sectional study was carried out to determine the status of body mass index (BMI) and habitual physical activity level among staffs working in Military Hospital, Malacca using Habitual Physical Activity Questionnaire (HPAQ). Results: About 120 HPAQ were distributed and only 82 responded with 23(28%) of them males and 59 (72%) females, aged between 21 to 59 (40.52 ± 9.38) years old. Anthropometry analysis showed the mean weight of male respondents was 79.48 (± 16.33) and 70.95 (± 15.66) for the females. Body mass index (BMI) for males (33.61 ± 2.82) was almost similar to females ( 33.20± 2.95).The mean waist circumference of men was 93.26 (± 10.94)cm compared to 94.03 (± 11.98)cm in the females. Following categorization of BMI, 59% (n=48) are in the obese group, 24% (n=20) are overweight and only 17% (n=14) have an ideal body weight or normal BMI. Relationship between BMI and HPAQ demonstrated strong and significant correlation coefficient for habitual physical activity at work (r = 0.775, p < 0.001), sports (r = 0.735, p < 0.05) and leisure ( r = 0.713, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The staffs working in the Hospital demonstrated poor habitual physical activity which explains for the high incidence of obesity among the staffs. This requires measures to be taken to promote a healthier lifestyle among them.
Poor appetite and inadequate food intake together with depression are associated with malnutrition, that will increase risk of morbidity and mortality among elderly people. Identifying factors associated with these conditions are essential for formulation of preventive strategies. Therefore, a study was conducted to identify factors associated with poor appetite and depression among institutionalised Chinese elderly people in Butterworth, Penang. A total of 100 Chinese elderly (49 men and 51 women) aged 60 years and above, (mean age ± SD of 74.7 ± 9.2 years), with no known terminal and mental illnesses from two nursing homes participated in this study. Subjects were interviewed to gather information on appetite using Council of Nutrition Appetite Questionnaire (CNAQ), depression using Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and also socio demographic and health status. Food intake was assessed using a combination of one-day food weighing and 24 hour diet recall. Body weight and height were measured. Results showed that the mean energy and nutrients intake did not achieve the Recommended Nutrient Intake of Malaysia (RNI), with the exception for vitamin C. Only 4% of the subjects were underweight and obese, 65% normal and 31% overweight. A total of 70% and 73% of subjects had poor appetite and depression, respectively. Subjects who had depression (adjusted OR = 2.78, 95% CI = 0.95-8.03), energy intake below RNI (adjusted OR = 2.34, 95% CI = 0.68-6.95) and difficulty to fall asleep at night (insomnia) (adjusted OR = 2.22, 95% CI = 0.72-6.82) were more likely to have poor appetite. Subjects who had poor appetite (adjusted OR = 3.36, 95% CI = 1.19-9.47) and insomnia (adjusted OR = 2.58, 95% CI = 0.83-7.98) were more likely to have depression. In conclusion, although the majority of subjects had normal body weight but the nutrient intake was inadequate. Poor appetite and depression were prevalent and interrelated and also strongly associated with insomnia.
Device, Scales & Questionnaire: Council of Nutrition Appetite Questionnaire (CNAQ-8); Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15)
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