Dietary and Physical Activity Factors Concerning Bowel Movement Frequency among Undergraduate Students during Covid-19 Pandemic

This study explored the association between lifestyle and bowel movement frequency among students. A cross-sectional study was employed using a structured questionnaire that was administrated via an online platform. A total of 363 participants were involved in this study, where 77.4% (n=281) were female while 72.2% (n=262) of them did not experience constipation. Further investigation found that calories, dietary fibre, drink consumption, and physical activity level were associated with bowel movement frequency. This study showed that a good nutrient intake and adequate physical activity would improve bowel movement frequency even though restricted movement due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Keywords: bowel movement; dietary intake; physical activity; COVID-19 eISSN: 2398-4287 © 2022. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open-access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under the responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians/Africans/Arabians), and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v7i21.369

Development and Validation of an Educational Booklet for Sunnah Practices in Improving Quality of Life

Sunnah eating practices refers to the practices promoted by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) that has healthy lifestyle elements. This paper describes the validation process of an educational booklet for sunnah eating practices to improve the Quality of Life among adults population. This study involves three steps; development of the booklet, validation of the booklet by 22 judges, and by 20 adults. The result of the Item-level Content Validity Index (I-CVI) for the booklet exceeds 0.80. Thus, the booklet was validated and should be used by healthcare professionals to assist on eating practices to improve the quality of life.Keywords: Sunnah; Eating practice; Physical activity; Educational booklet.ISSN: 2398-4287© 2017. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BYNC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia

Nutritional Status and Factors affecting Food Intake among Hospitalised Patients in Hospital Al-Sultan Abdullah

Hospital food intake can impact patients' nutritional status, resulting in a lengthier hospital stay or a higher mortality rate. This study aimed to investigate the nutritional status and the factors influencing the food intake of patients at Hospital Al-Sultan Abdullah (HASA). Malnutrition risk was assessed using Nutritional Risk Screening 2002, and factors affecting food intake were investigated using a questionnaire. Participants' weight and height were estimated using the anthropometry assessment formula. The body mass index was 25.3 ± 8.1 kg/m2 and 70.6% (113) posed no risk of malnutrition. Food tasting differently (48.8%) was the highest affecting factor in food intake. Keywords: food intake; hospitalised patients; nutritional status; malnutrition eISSN: 2398-4287 © 2023. The Authors. Published for AMER & cE-Bs by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), College of Built Environment, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia DOI: https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v8i24.4674

Exploring Validity and Reliability of U.S. Adult Food Security Module (AFSSM) among Malay Young Adult

Food insecurity problem is growing public health concern worldwide. Thus, the estimation of the prevalence of food insecurity especially among the younger generation is important. Hence, reliable and valid instrument to access it prevalence is needed especially in Malaysia. A cross-sectional study consisted of n=149 participants were selected. The Cronbach’s alpha and exploratory factor analysis were done to evaluate reliability and validity of the questionnaire. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient indicated acceptable internal consistency for all scores. Exploratory factor analysis showed low-to-high loading. The U.S. food security module is reliable and valid to assess the prevalence of food insecurity among young Malay population.© 2016. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies, Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.Keywords: Validity; reliability; food security; young adult

Nutritional Status and Factors Affecting Food Intake among Hospitalized Patients in Hospital Ampang

The study aims to measure the current nutritional status and factors contributing to food consumption during hospitalization at Hospital Ampang. This is a cross-sectional study of 206 patients consisting of 104 males and 102 females respectively between 18 to 70 years of age. Data obtained from Factors Influencing Dietary Intake of Hospitalized Patients Questionnaire and Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS 2002). We used standardized methods to measure weight, height. Body weight categories were defined based on Body Mass Index (BMI). The BMI of participants was 26.08±4.56 kgm-2 and 52.0% (107) of participants had low risk of malnutrition and at risk of malnutrition. 85.4% admitted that the food tasted different. To conclude, patients’ low consumption of food during hospitalization should be enhanced. Thus, it is essential to implement effective strategies and interventions to increase dietary intake among hospitalized patients to fulfill their nutritional requirements and encourage quick recovery

The Food Insecurity Issues in Gastronomy Tourism among Local and International Tourists in Malaysia

The objectives of this study are to investigate the food security issues arising in gastronomic tourism, to verify the food insecurity experiences encountered by tourists, and to determine the tourists’ dining satisfaction from the gastronomic tourism experiences in Malaysia. A quantitative approach was selected for this study. These issues were concluded from the data collection via questionnaire forms disseminated online through multiple social media platforms consisting of 250 participants of both local and international tourists visiting Malaysia. The Independent T-test and Mann-Whitney test were used as the main statistical test to establish if any tourist groups had food security-related issues during their visit. The results showed that local tourists are more likely to be affected by food security issues, food insecurity, and dining experiences. Overall, this study discovered that both local and international tourists have contrasting experiences in gastronomy tourism in Malaysia

Psycho-social construct characterization of adolescents food insecurity experience / Nazrul Hadi Ismail … [et al.]

Food insecurity that occurs when there is uncertain availability of future food, insufficiency in quantity and quality of food required for healthy life style or the need to use socially unacceptable ways to acquired foods, still remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Previous study in rural Malaysian population has shown that more than 50% of the household were experiencing some sort of food insecurity. Obesity that was thought one of the consequences of food insecurity is the one that was blamed for the adverse health outcome such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular event in those groups. However, current study has shown that the c-reactive protein is increased in the food insecured group showing evident of inflammatory action that lead to food insecurity-obesity paradox questionable. This study is sought to answer weather the nutritional status and its impact on inflammatory pathway, oxidative stress,PPARs' and also immunological processes may help explain how individual experiencing food insecurity influences health outcomes such as cardiovascular diseases. For that purposes, the effect of food insecurity on inflammatory markers such as tumour necrosis factor-a, c-reactive protein and interleukin-6 will be studied. Oxidative stress biomarkers such as F2- isoprostane and malonaldehyde will be measured. PPARs also wiil be enumerated. Furthermore specific nutritional markers that associated with inflammatory state and innate immune function will also be analyses such as vitamin A, vitamin B12, and folate. Finally full blood count with CD4+ and CD8+ measurement will also evaluated. The structured equation model (SEM) will further be used to help explain those relationship if any. The results of this research could help scientist to understand the alternative pathway that might explain the potential route through which food insecurity is associated with adverse health outcome, and therefore can further suggest for the development of more effective public health program

Exploring Validity and Reliability of U.S. Adult Food Security Module (AFSSM) among Malay Young Adult

Food insecurity problem is growing public health concern worldwide. Thus, the estimation of the prevalence of food insecurity especially among the younger generation is important. Hence, reliable and valid instrument to access it prevalence is needed especially in Malaysia. A cross-sectional study consisted of n=149 participants were selected. The Cronbach’s alpha and exploratory factor analysis were done to evaluate reliability and validity of the questionnaire. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient indicated acceptable internal consistency for all scores. Exploratory factor analysis showed low-to-high loading. The U.S. food security module is reliable and valid to assess the prevalence of food insecurity among young Malay population