Obesity indices predict hypertension among indigenous adults in Krau Wildlife Reserve, Peninsular Malaysia

Background: The disease burden of indigenous peoples has been augmented by the rising prevalence of obesity and hypertension in this population. This study assessed the ability of obesity indices to predict hypertension among indigenous adults of Peninsular Malaysia. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 482 adults (223 men, 259 women) aged ≥18 years old were measured for body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-height ratio (WHtR), waist-hip ratio (WHR), and blood pressure. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to determine the predictive ability of obesity indices for hypertension in men and women. Gender-specific logistic regression analyses were done to examine the association between obesity, defined by BMI, WC, WHtR and WHR, and hypertension. Results: Prevalence of hypertension was 25.5%. Overall, WHtR was the best predictor of the presence of hypertension, in both men and women. The optimal WHtR cut-off values for hypertension were 0.45 and 0.52 in men and women, respectively. Obese adults with WHtR ≥0.5 had about two times increased odds of having hypertension compared to non-obese adults. Conclusions: WHtR may serve as a simple and inexpensive screening tool to identify individuals with hypertension in this relatively difficult to reach population

Influence of social facilitation on energy intake among university students. a laboratory study

Background: Eating with companions or eating in the presence of other people at mealtime has been shown can impact energy intake through social facilitation effect. Social facilitation may influence the adoption of undesirable energy intake and thus may affect an individual's weight status. Objective: This study assessed the effect of social facilitation on energy intake among participants in a laboratory setting. Method: Sixty-four participants (50 female and 14 male students) from a public university participated in three standardized lunch buffet sessions under three social facilitation situations: eat alone, eat with unfamiliar peers, and eat with familiar peers. The lunch session was scheduled one week apart. The participants were invited to serve themselves in three lunch buffets which consisted of white rice, chicken dish, spicy fermented soybean (tempeh) and stir-fried vegetable. Result: Repeated measures analysis of variance revealed statistically significant effect of social facilitation situations on energy intake among the students (p-value< 0.05). On average, the total energy intake for lunch was found to increase when the students ate with familiar peers (705 ± 170 kcal) compared to eating in a group of unfamiliar peers (587 ± 129 kcal) and eating alone 545 ± 119 kcal). Conclusion: This evidence supports the hypothesis that social facilitation affects students’ energy intake where the impact is greater when eating in a group of familiar peers

Household food insecurity, diet quality, and weight status among indigenous women (Mah Meri) in Peninsular Malaysia

Background/objectives: This cross-sectional study assessed household food security status and determined its association with diet quality and weight status among indigenous women from the Mah Meri tribe in Peninsular Malaysia. Subjects/methods: The Radimer/Cornell Hunger and Food Insecurity Instrument and the Malaysian Healthy Eating Index (HEI) were used to assess household food security status and diet quality, respectively. Information on socio-demographic characteristics and 24-hour dietary recall data were collected through face-to-face interview, and anthropometric measurements including weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) were obtained from 222 women. Results: Majority of households (82.9%) experienced different levels of food insecurity: 29.3% household food insecurity, 23.4% individual food insecurity, and 30.2% fell into the child hunger group. The food-secure group had significantly fewer children and smaller household sizes than the food-insecure groups (P < 0.05). The mean household income, income per capita, and food expenditure significantly decreased as food insecurity worsened (P < 0.001). The food-secure group had significantly higher Malaysian HEI scores for grains and cereals (P < 0.01), as well as for meat, poultry, and eggs (P < 0.001), than the food-insecure groups. The child-hunger group had significantly higher fat (P < 0.05) and sodium (P < 0.001) scores than the food-secure and household food-insecure groups. Compared to the individual food-insecure and child-hunger groups, multivariate analysis of covariance showed that the food-secure group was significantly associated with a higher Malaysian HEI score while the household food-insecure group was significantly associated with a higher BMI after controlling for age (P < 0.025). Conclusions: The majority of indigenous households faced food insecurity. Food insecurity at the individual and child levels was associated with lower quality of diet, while food insecurity at the household level was associated with higher body weight. Therefore, a substantial effort by all stakeholders is warranted to improve food insecurity among poorer households. The results suggest a pressing need for nutritional interventions to improve dietary intake among low income households

Thyroid Dysfunction, Total Cholesterol Levels and Anthropometric Status in Women of Reproductive Age in Iodine Deficient Area of Prambanan Sub-District, Sleman Regency, Indonesia

This study aimed to determine the relationship between thyroid dysfunction with Total Cholesterol levels (TC), Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist Circumference (WC) and Waist to hip Circumference Ratio (WHR). The cross-sectional observational study was conducted in the endemic iodine deficiency areas in Prambanan Sub-district, Sleman Regency. A total subject of 134 women of reproductive age were selected randomly from the source population of 592. Thyroid dysfunction determined by Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) and Free Thyroxine (FT4) level were measured by ELISA method. Total cholesterol level was measured by colorimetric method using a spectrophotometer. We also measured the weight and height for BMI calculation as well as the WC and Hip Circumference (HC). Chi-Square test was applied to analyze association between thyroid dysfunction with TC levels, BMI, WC and WHR. Results found the percentage of thyroid dysfunction in subjects was 39.6% (hypothyroidism 4.5% and hyperthyroidism 35.1%). The percentage of subjects with hypercholesterolemia was 34.3%. The BMI calculation found that the underweight, overweight and obesity proportions were 6.7%; 16.4% and 27.6% respectively; WC &gt;80 cm was 29.9% and WHR &gt;0.85 was 38.8%. There was no association between thyroid dysfunction and TC levels, BMI and WC (p&gt;0.05) respectively. Meanwhile thyroid dysfunction was significantly associated with WHR (p&lt;0.05). Therefore, women in reproductive age with thyroid dysfunction should be aware of their increasing abdominal adiposity

Determinants of a dietary pattern linked with greater metabolic risk and its tracking during adolescence

Background: Although growing evidence suggests that dietary patterns associated with noncommunicable diseases in adulthood may develop early in life, when these are established, as well as their determinants, remains unclear. Methods: We examined determinants and tracking of a dietary pattern (DP) associated with metabolic risk and its key food groups among 860 adolescents in the Western Australian Pregnancy (Raine) Cohort study. Food intake was reported using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) at 14 and 17 years. Z-scores for an 'energy-dense, high-fat, low-fibre' DP were estimated by applying reduced rank regression at both ages. Tracking was based on the predictive value (PV) of remaining in the DPZ-score or food intake quartile at 14 and 17 years. Early-life exposures included: maternal age; maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index; parent smoking status during pregnancy; and parent socio-economic position (SEP) at 14 and 17 years. Associations between the DPZ-scores, early-life factors and SEP were analysed using regression analysis. Results: Dietary tracking was strongest among boys with high DPZ-scores, high intakes of processed meat, low-fibre bread, crisps and savoury snacks (PV > 1) and the lowest intakes of vegetables, fruit and legumes. Lower maternal education (β = 0.09, P = 0.002 at 14 years; β = 0.14, P < 0.001 at 17 years) and lower maternal age at birth (β = 0.09, P = 0.003 at 14 years; β = 0.11, P = 0.004 at 17 years) were positively associated with higher DPZ-scores. Conclusions: An energy-dense, high-fat, low-fibre dietary pattern tracks more strongly among adolescent boys who have high scores for this pattern at 14 years of age. These findings highlight target foods and population subgroups for early interventions aiming to improve dietary behaviours

Obesity indices predict hypertension among indigenous adults in Krau Wildlife Reserve, Peninsular Malaysia

Background: The disease burden of indigenous peoples has been augmented by the rising prevalence of obesity and hypertension in this population. This study assessed the ability of obesity indices to predict hypertension among indigenous adults of Peninsular Malaysia. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 482 adults (223 men, 259 women) aged 6518 years old were measured for body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-height ratio (WHtR), waist-hip ratio (WHR), and blood pressure. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to determine the predictive ability of obesity indices for hypertension in men and women. Gender-specific logistic regression analyses were done to examine the association between obesity, defined by BMI, WC, WHtR and WHR, and hypertension. Results: Prevalence of hypertension was 25.5%. Overall, WHtR was the best predictor of the presence of hypertension, in both men and women. The optimal WHtR cut-off values for hypertension were 0.45 and 0.52 in men and women, respectively. Obese adults with WHtR 650.5 had about two times increased odds of having hypertension compared to non-obese adults. Conclusions: WHtR may serve as a simple and inexpensive screening tool to identify individuals with hypertension in this relatively difficult to reach population

The association between dietary patterns before and in early pregnancy and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM):Data from the Malaysian SECOST cohort

Generally, dietary patterns (DP)s have been linked to the risk of diabetes mellitus, however, only few studies examined the associations between DPs in early pregnancy and the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). This study aims to determine the association between DPs before and during pregnancy and risk of GDM in Malaysian pregnant women. DPs were derived using principal component analysis of consumed 126 food and beverage items assessed using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire collecting data retrospectively for pre-pregnancy, but prospectively for the first and second trimester. Three different DPs were identified at each time point and labelled as DP 1-3 (pre-pregnancy), DP 4-6 (first trimester), and DP 7-9 (second trimester). About 10.6% (n = 48) of pregnant women were diagnosed with GDM in our cohort. Women with high adherence (HA) to DP 2 (adjusted OR: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.20-0.91) and DP 5 (adjusted OR: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.11-0.68) showed a significantly reduced risk of GDM compared to women with low adherence (LA). Other DPs were not significantly associated with GDM risk. Compared to women with GDM, non-GDM women showed HA scores for all DPs throughout pregnancy. Overall, a relative low percentage of women with GDM was found in this cohort. The risk was lower in women with HA to a relatively unhealthy dietary pattern, i.e. DP 2 and DP 5. The lower body mass index (BMI) status and energy intake of women showing a HA to DP 2 in the first trimester may underlie the observed association with a lower GDM risk. Additionally, genetic variance might explain the less susceptibility to GDM despite HA to unhealthy DPs among non-GDM women

Aging male symptoms scale (AMS) for health-related quality of life in aging men: translation and adaptation in Malay

The Aging Male Symptoms Scale (AMS) measures health-related quality of life in aging men. The objective of this paper is to describe the translation and validation of the AMS into Bahasa Melayu (BM). The original English version of the AMS was translated into BM by 2 translators to produce BM1 and BM2, and subsequently harmonized to produce BM3. Two other independent translators, blinded to the English version, back-translated BM3 to yield E2 and E3. All versions (BM1, BM2, BM3, E2, E3) were compared with the English version. The BM pre-final version was produced, and pre-tested in 8 participants. Proportion Agreement, Weighted Kappa, Spearman Rank Correlation Coefficient, and verbatim responses were used. The English and the BM versions showed excellent equivalence (weighted Kappa and Spearman Rank Coefficients, ranged from 0.72 to 1.00, and Proportion Agreement values ranged from 75.0% to 100%). In conclusion, the BM version of the AMS was successfully translated and adapted

Prediction of body fat loss in relation to change in nutrient intake among housewives participating in the MyBFF@ home study

Background: Diet compositions are likely to be one of the influential factors for body fat deposition. The aim of this paper was to determine the nutrient changes and its association to body fat loss among the overweight and obese housewives in the MyBFF@home study. Methods: Data of participants in the MyBFF@home study (intervention and control groups) were analysed. Participants in the intervention group received personalised dietary counselling consisted of reduced calorie diet 1200–1500 kcal/day, while the control group was assigned to receive women’s health seminars. The dietary assessment was done during the intervention phase at baseline, 1 month (m), 2 m, 3 m and 6 m using a 3-day food diary. Body fat was measured using a bioelectrical impedance analyser (In-body 720) at baseline and at the end of the intervention phase. The mean differences of nutrient intake and body compositions during the intervention phase were measured with paired t-test. The changes in body fat and nutrients intake were calculated by subtracting baseline measurements from those taken at 6 months. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to determine the extent to which the changes in each gram of nutrients per 1000 kcal were predictive of changes in body fat mass. Results: There were significant reductions in energy, all macronutrients, dietary fibre, calcium and iron intake in both study groups after the intervention phase (p <  0.05). In the intervention group, body fat loss increased with the reduction of each gram of carbohydrate, protein and fat per 1000 kcal, (p <  0.05), and decreased with the reduction of each gram of calcium and fibre intake per 1000 kcal (p <  0.05). In the control group, body fat loss increased with the reduction of each gram fat per 1000 kcal (p <  0.05) and decreased with the reduction of each gram iron per 1000 kcal. Conclusion: Changes in the intake of various nutrients have different effects on body fat loss between the intervention and control group

The Third National Health and Morbidity Survey: Prevalence of obesity, and abdominal obesity among the Malaysian elderly population

Obesity is an emerging public health threat in the elderly population in developing countries. Hence, the Third National Health and Morbidity Survey has assessed 4746 individuals aged 60 years and older recruited through a household survey to determine the prevalence of adiposity using body mass index and waist circumference. The national's prevalence of overweight and obesity in men was 29.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 27.2-31.3) and 7.4% (95% CI = 6.4-8.6), respectively. However, the prevalence decreased with age. The figures in women were 30.3% (95% CI = 28.5-32.1) and 13.8% (95% CI = 12.5-15.2), respectively. The prevalence of abdominal obesity was 21.4% (95%CI = 20.2-22.6), with 7.7% (95% CI = 6.7-9.0) in men and 33.4% (95% CI = 31.4-35.3) in women. Predictors of adiposity include the following: Malay and Indian ethnicity, higher education level, higher household income, from urban area, and being married. In conclusion, adiposity affects about one third of the Malaysian elderly population, especially those of the younger age group, women, and those with higher socioeconomic status