Association between dietary behaviours and weight changes among UNIMAS pre-clinical medical students during Covid-19 period

Law, Leh Shii and Adha Najiwa, A. and Ngee, J. Y. and Nur Athirh, M. and Syarifah S., W.R. A. (2023) Association between dietary behaviours and weight changes among UNIMAS pre-clinical medical students during Covid-19 period. The MalaysianJournal of Pathology., 45 (3). p. 504. ISSN 0126-8635

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Abstract

Introduction: Movement Control Order (MCO) during COVID-19 pandemic period was believed to influence the routine lifestyle among Malaysians due to confinement of individuals to their home. This study was conducted to investigate the changes of lifestyles and body weight status among university students and the factors that associated with the changes in Kuching, Sarawak. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 214 university students through convenient sampling. Data collection was conducted by using a structured questionnaire that was disseminated via google form. Information on the sociodemographic profiles, dietary behaviours (eating of leftover food, water drank per day, and meal lf-reported weight and height were collected. The chi-square test of independence was used during data analysis. Result: The study revealed that 35% of respondents perceived themselves as “increase a lot of weight” and 39.3% of the respondents declared skipping one or more of the main meals. The weight change was associated with race (p=0.012), change in number of daily meals (p=0.003), body weight status (p<0.001) and eating habits during COVID-19 pandemic(p=0.002). Discussion: Regular health promotion in university campus is needed to increase awareness among the university students about the importance of healthy eating.

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