Disparity between healthy eating and healthy living awareness and practices amongst university students on institutional catering

Lim, Yi Pei (2009) Disparity between healthy eating and healthy living awareness and practices amongst university students on institutional catering. Universiti Malaysia Sabah. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

The main objectives were to evaluate the healthy eating awareness (HEA) and healthy living awareness (HLA), and to compare these with dietary intakes and physical activity levels of university students who eat most meals at campus cafeteria. Respondents were Universiti Malaysia Sabah undergraduates randomly selected from on-campus hostels (n=110, 51 males, 59 females; mean age 20.9 ± 1.2y). Most respondents have normal body sizes (72%). Awareness of healthy eating and healthy living was evaluated using nutrition knowledge questionnaires adapted from Temple (1999) and lifestyle questionnaires adapted from Moonmuang (2005) respectively. Healthy eating and healthy living practices were analysed from data collected using food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Females scored significantly better than males in nutrition knowledge (p=0.016). HLA was significantly associated to physical activity levels in females (p=0.001) but not in males (p=0.821). There were 30% of respondents under-reported and 40% over-reported in their energy intake. The under-reporters had significantly higher BMI than over-reporters (p=0.039). There was a significant negative relationship between nutrition knowledge and reported energy intake (r=-0.380, p<0.01). Inverse relationships, albeit insignificant were observed between nutrition knowledge and fruit (r=-0.127, p=0.137) and vegetables (r=-0.133, p=0.066). Inability to afford food was most probably not a confounding factor in food choices because 81% have study loans and 80% have RM300 or more per month. Overall, this study showed that nutrition knowledge is not translated into practice and intake of calcium is particularly low in this last stage of calcium deposition in the life cycle. The Ministry of Health, food and nutrition professionals and other related-agencies should carry out nutritional education to increase the awareness of university students and other young adults in their healthy eating and lifestyle.

Item Type: Academic Exercise
Keyword: Health, Healthy eating awareness, Nutrition knowledge, Moonmuang, Diet food, Physical activity
Subjects: T Technology > TX Home economics > TX1-1110 Home economics > TX341-641 Nutrition. Foods and food supply
Department: SCHOOL > School of Food Science and Nutrition
Depositing User: ADMIN ADMIN
Date Deposited: 18 Jun 2012 17:16
Last Modified: 23 Oct 2017 12:27
URI: https://eprints.ums.edu.my/id/eprint/4383

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