title: Meal patterns of malaysian adults: findings from the Malaysian adults nutrition survey (MANS).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Meal patterns have received little attention in nutrition studies. The aim of this study is to present the findings on general meal patterns of Malaysian adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Malaysian Adults Nutrition Survey (MANS), carried out in 2002 and 2003, involved 6,928 adults selected by stratified random sampling from all households by zone in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In general, the results showed that most respondents (74.16%) ate three meals per day; 89.20% of the respondents consumed breakfast, while 88.57% consumed lunch and 91.97% consumed dinner with no significant difference in terms of sex. In Peninsular Malaysia, the Northern Zone had the highest number of people consuming breakfast compared to other zones. Meanwhile, the population in Sarawak had the largest proportion of people consuming lunch and dinner, but the smallest proportion of people consuming breakfast. A significantly higher number of the rural population consumed breakfast and lunch than urbanites; however there was no significant difference in dinner consumption. Generally, breakfast consumption increased with age whereby significant difference existed between the 18 to 19 years age group and the age group of 30 years and older. Lunch intake among the age groups showed no significant difference. In contrast, dinner consumption was significantly lower among the 18 to 19 years age group compared to all other age groups. Comparison among the ethnic groups showed that the Indian population had the lowest percentage of having breakfast and lunch while the Orang Asli had the lowest percentage of consuming dinner. However, the Orang Asli recorded the highest percentage for taking breakfast and lunch while the Chinese had the highest percentage of taking dinner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering that Malaysian adults consumed their conventional breakfast, lunch and dinner, these findings indicatethat Malaysians are maintaining their traditional meal patterns.
authors.affiliation: Program in Nutrition, School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian Kelantan, Malaysia. wanmanan@kb.usm.my
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Wan Abdul Manan
authors.affiliation: Program in Nutrition, School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nur Firdaus
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA.
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Safiah
authors.affiliation: Research and Development, Statistics Department Putrajaya, Malaysia.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Siti Haslinda
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Poh
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Norimah
authors.affiliation: State Department ofHealth, Johor, Ministry of Health, Malaysia.
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Azmi
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Systems Research, Ministry of Health, Malaysia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tahir
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mirnalini
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Zalilah
authors.affiliation: Family Health Development Division, Ministry of Health, Malaysia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fatimah
authors.affiliation: Family Health Development Division, Ministry of Health, Malaysia.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Siti Norazlin
authors.affiliation: Family Health Development Division, Ministry of Health, Malaysia.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fasiah
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D004032:Diet; D005006:Ethnicity; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000208:ethnology; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D062407:Meals; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D012424:Rural Population; D014505:Urban Population