Association between Food Habits and Nutritional Status of Secondary School Students in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Baseline Findings from Nuteen Project.

Dietary habits and choice of food influences nutritional status of adolescence. Malnutrition have been associated with adolescents' dietary habits that may predispose to chronic disease during their adulthood. The aim of this study is to determine the association between food habit and nutritional status of adolescents. In the baseline study, a total of 924 students from 10 secondary schools were randomly selected from a total of 62 secondary schools in Kuala Lumpur. The students were assessed on various dietary components including food habits using a structured questionnaire as well as for anthropometry measurements. All data were analyzed using SPSS 23. The prevalence of obesity was significantly higher among males compared to females (16.4% vs. 8.4%, X=25.42, p<0.001). Food habit exhibits an inversed association with z-score of body mass index for age (β=-0.107, 95% CI=-0.053, -0.013), especially via food habits such as often eat dinner (r=-0.102, p=0.002), often have breakfast before school (r=-0.100, p=0.002), often eat cake or dessert at meal (r=-0.110, p=0.001), often drink eight glasses of water (r=0.132, p<0.001), often eat food from school canteen (r=-0.071, p=0.031) and often bring own snack from home (r=-0.112, p=0.001). This study suggested that the type of food and timing of meal should be considered to prevent obesity among adolescents.