International Journal of Science and Healthcare Research Vol.2; Issue: 3; July-Sept. 2017 Website: www.gkpublication.in/ijshr.html Original Research Article ISSN: 2455-7587 Eating Habits in Kampung Salak Tinggi, Sepang, Selangor Manpreetaljit K.S, Nur Ain M, A.A.Syahmie, Jennat-Ul F, Johnathan Joseph S Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, Cyberjaya University College of Medical Sciences. Corresponding Author: Nur Ain M ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT 1.0 INTRODUCTION Background: The study of eating habits among Poor dietary meal pattern is a very Malaysians has been poorly studied in our significant health issue among the country and is now a trending topic to be adolescents, as they are the ones who are observed upon. Eating habits among Malaysians facing a very tensed living environment. should not be taken lightly as it influences the These factors represent obstacles against daily lives, as well as the start of all irreversible chronic diseases. This study is focused primarily practicing healthy eating behaviours. Even on the eating habits of the community of though these behaviours are considered to Kampung Salak Tinggi, Sepang, Selangor. be temporary, unhealthy habits practiced Materials and Methods: Our study during this time of age will eventually compromises of one hundred twenty-nine continue when they grow older (Kurubaran respondents from Kampung Salak Tinggi with a et al., 2012). response rate of 100% participated in our study A good healthy and balanced eating using cross sectional study design, simple habit provides sufficient amount of vigor random sampling method and using one way and nutrients required by the body. The ANOVA and independent sample t test. Malaysian Dietary Guidelines (MDG), Result: The current data indicated that 55.8% of suggested three important features when them do not take meals regularly. About 82.2% took breakfast regularly. About 47.3% had planning healthy meals, especially, eating a snacks less than three times per week. 85.3% balanced diet and a variety of foods in respondents consumed vegetables three or more moderation (NCCFN, 2013) times per week. Almost half of them by 58.9% There are many factors affecting consumed fruits of three times or more per their eating habit as well as what to eat and week. About 62.0% consume fried food twice a with whom they would eat with. At the week or more. About 20.9% had fast food often same time, there are certain barriers and 82.2% took meals with family or friends affecting their healthy or unhealthy diet daily. Among the respondents, 63.3% drink which should be intervened. Chin & Nasir more than two litres of water every day. 46.5% (2009) described that by skipping breakfast, of the respondents ate because feeling happy. eating snacks and going through different Among the respondents, 27.9% woke up in the middle of the night just to go grab some food weight losses dietary behaviours were some and nearly 25.6% of the respondents ate because of the prominent unhealthy eating of feeling lonely. behaviours shown by the young adult Conclusion: In a nutshell, the respondents from females. (NCCFN, 2013) this research study, practice good eating habits The study concluded that it is except in regular meals, frequency of eating important to promote healthy eating as it is snacks and fried food. Besides that, the majority crucial for the betterment of individual of the respondents does not have any health. There is very less study done in psychological association to eating habits. Malaysia that did a research on the Keywords: Eating habits; Psychological Factors; association between eating habits and the Factors associated with eating habits; psychological factors among Malaysian Compulsive Eating Habits; Kampung Salak adults. World Health Organization (WHO) Tinggi, Sepang, Selangor. recommends that each country should International Journal of Science and Healthcare Research (www.gkpublication.in) 41 Vol.2; Issue: 3; July-September 2017 Manpreetaljit K.S et al. Eating Habits in Kampung Salak Tinggi, Sepang, Selangor estimate their respective food consumption 22·9 kg/m2 for the normal range, 23.0– pattern data. 27.4 kg/m2 as overweight, and more than The present day study is directed at 27.5 kg/m2 as obese. Cronbach’s alpha evaluating the patterns of eating habits and coefficient of the Compulsive Eating Scale the associated factors, which focuses on the (CES) was 0.80. The response options for psychological factors among adults in the each question were ‘Yes’ or ‘No’. The community. question in the second part, which is eating habits, was scored (1) if the response was 2.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS healthy or (0) if non-healthy. The total score This cross sectional research study was summed up and obtained (minimum = 0 was conducted among 129 respondents aged and maximum = 10). Thus, a higher score between 18-80 years in the community of on eating habits indicated better eating Kampung Salak Tinggi using stratified habits. Descriptive analysis was performed sampling. They were requested to for all variables. Student t-test and ANOVA participate in this study. However, nobody test were used to compare mean of total was forced to participate. A survey was eating habits score across socio- done using a validated questionnaire on demographic and association variables. Test Eating Habits taken from a previous study of normal distribution of the total score of (Kurubaran et al., 2012). The objectives of eating habits was also conducted. this study were explained verbally to the respondents during the survey. RESULT The questionnaire consists of three 2.1 Sociodemographic Characteristic parts which are Socio-demographic Data, Table 1: Sociodemographic characteristics of respondents (n = 129) Eating Habits and Compulsive Eating Scale SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC N % (CES) with total question of 30s CHARACTERISTICS GENDER I. The first part included the socio- Male 50 38.8 demographic data, for example the age, Female 79 61.2 Total 129 100 gender, ethnicity, religion, marital AGE status, level of education, working 18-20 4 3.1 status, household income as well as 21-30 44 34.1 31-40 21 16.3 anthropometry of the respondents. 41-50 12 9.3 II. The second part consists of 10 questions 51-60 26 20.2 61 and above 22 17.1 on eating habits and type of meals Total 129 100 consumed, such as meals regularity, ETHNICITY Malay 129 100.0 frequency of meals, types of meal; BODY MASS INDEX (kg/m2) consumptions of vegetables and fruits, Underweight (<18.5) 8 6.2 daily water intake, consumption of fast Normal (18.5-22.9) 37 28.7 Overweight (23.0-27.4) 40 31.0 or fried food, etc. Obese (>27.5) 44 34.1 III. The third part focuses on psychological Total 129 100 HOUSEHOLD INCOME factors that influence the respondents’ Less than RM3000 79 61.2 dietary habits. This part included 8 RM3000-5000 32 24.8 RM5001-10000 13 10.1 selected questions from the validated RM10001-15000 3 2.3 Compulsive Eating Scale (CES) that RM15001 and above 2 1.6 Total 129 100 was used to measure uncontrolled eating SMOKING STATUS patterns. Yes 25 19.4 The SPSS Version 20.0 was used to No 104 80.6 Total 129 100 analyse in this study. In this study, based on REGULAR EXERCISE the NHMS 2015 cutoff for the Malaysian Yes 41 33.8 2 No 88 68.2 population, a BMI < 18.5 kg/m was Total 129 100 categorised as underweight, 18·5– International Journal of Science and Healthcare Research (www.gkpublication.in) 42 Vol.2; Issue: 3; July-September 2017 Manpreetaljit K.S et al. Eating Habits in Kampung Salak Tinggi, Sepang, Selangor One hundred twenty-nine respondents, 63.3% drink more than two respondents from Kampung Salak Tinggi litres of water every day. with a response rate of 100% participated in our study. The majority of respondents were Table 2: Eating habit among respondents (n=129) EATING HABITS N % females (61.2%), aged more than 21- Regular meals 30 years old (34.1%) and 100% of them are Yes 57 44.2 No 72 55.8 Malays. The majority had an average Total 129 100 monthly household income of less than RM Daily breakfast 3000 (61.2%). The majority of the Yes 106 82.2 No 23 17.8 respondents are non-smokers (80.6%). Total 129 100 About 68.2% do not perform regular Frequency of daily meals Three times or less 94 72.9 exercise, but some did (33.8%). Among the More than three times 35 27.1 respondents, 28.7% had a normal Body Total 129 100 Frequency of having snacks (per week) Mass Index, 6.2 % were under weights, Less than three times 61 47.3 31.0% were overweight and 34.1 % were Three or more times 68 52.7 obese. Total 129 100 Weekly consumption of vegetables Less than three times 19 14.7 2.2 Eating Habits Three or more times 110 85.3 Total 129 100 Among the respondents, 55.8% of Weekly consumption of fruits them do not take meals regularly. About Less than three times 53 41.1 Three or more times 76 58.9 82.2% took breakfast regularly. 47.3% had Total 129 100 snacks less than three times per week and Weekly consumption of fried food 52.7% took snacks three or more times per Less than twice 49 38.0 Twice or more 80 62.0 week. Myriad of respondents consumed Total 129 100 vegetables three or more times per week Consumption of fast food Often 27 20.9 (85.3%). About 58.9% consumed fruits Rarely 102 79.1 more than three times per week; the rest Total 129 100 Meals with friends & family (41.1%) took it less than three times per Daily 106 82.2 week.