KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE, AND PRACTICE TOWARDS OBESITY AMONG ADULTS IN THE NORTHERN REGION OF MALAYSIA
Omar M., Iezatun Nuha B., Muhammad Afif Daniel M.R., Nur Fazlie S., Muhammad Syafiq S., Nurul Madihah M.A. & Harif Fadzilah C.H.
abstract
Obesity, a complex and pervasive health issue, has become a global epidemic with far-reaching consequences. This abstract explores the multifaceted nature of obesity, encompassing biological, environmental, and behavioural factors. In this study, respondents living in northern regions with a variety of demographic backgrounds were evaluated in terms of knowledge and attitude regarding obesity. The results were analysed using SPSS version 29. Descriptive statistics were employed to illustrate the socio-demographic features of the subjects. Using the One-Way ANOVA test, the degree of knowledge and attitude were analysed, and the Chi-Square test was employed to examine the relationship between the factors. The results indicated that 99.5% of the population of the northern region of Malaysia has a good knowledge of obesity, while the remaining percentage has a mediocre understanding. A significant proportion of the population in the northern region of Malaysia (97.7%) holds a good attitude towards obesity. Meanwhile, the population in the northern region of Malaysia with good practices regarding obesity shows only 67.5% and the other 32.5% show poor practices towards obesity. In conclusion, the research undertaken in the northern region of Malaysia unveiled a commendable degree of community awareness and perspectives regarding obesity.
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4. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Health Effects of Overweight and Obesity (2022). Retrived from https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/effects/index.html.
5. C. H. Teh, S. Rampal, C. K. Kee, O. Azahadi, and A. Tahir, “Body mass index and waist circumference trajectories across the life course and birth cohorts, 1996–2015 Malaysia: sex and ethnicity matter,” Int. J. Obes., vol. 47, no. 12, pp. 1302–1308, 2023, doi: 10.1038/s41366-023-01391-5.
6. K. A. Narayan and A. R. Khan, “Body mass index and nutritional status of adults in two rural villages in Northern Malaysia,” Malays. J. Nutr., vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 9–17, 2007.
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8. World Health Organization. (2015). Noncommunicable Diseases (NCD) Country Profiles, Malaysia.
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10. Poh, B. K., Safiah, M. Y., Tahir, A., Siti Haslinda, M. D., Siti Norazah, Z., Norimah, A. K., … & Kandiah, M. (2013). Physical activity pattern and energy expenditure of Malaysian adults: findings from the Malaysian Adult Nutrition Survey (MANS). Mal J Nutr, 19(1), 1-13.
11. Yap, R. W., Shidoji, Y., Yap, W. H., & Masaki, M. (2019). Genetic factors associated with obesity and the prevention of obesity–related complications in Malaysia. Journal of Medical Sciences, 19(1), 1-6.
12. Ministry of Education Malaysia. (2019). Implementation of Physical Education and Health Education Curriculum in Malaysia. Retrived from http://www.moe.gov.my/en/soal-jawab/soalan-soalan-lazim/penilaian/4380-perimplementationan-kurikulum-pendidikan-jasmani-dan-pendidikan-kesihatan-di-malaysia.
13. Ministry of Health Malaysia. (2021). Health Care Demand and Utilisation. Retrived from https://www.moh.gov.my/moh/resources/Penerbitan/Penerbitan%20Utama/HEALTHCARE_DEMAND_AND_UTILIZATION_14_MARCH_2021.pdf.
14. World Health Organization. (2016). Report of the Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity. Retrived from https://www.who.int/end-childhood-obesity/publications/echo-report/en/.
15. Lim, H. K. (2018). Socioeconomic factors and obesity among adults in Malaysia. International Journal of Public Health and Clinical Sciences, 5(4), 117-131.