title: Lifestyle practices and obesity in Malaysian adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the influence of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) on obesity profiles of 454 Malaysian adolescents aged 12 to 19.
  
  
  METHODS
  Validated PA and SB questionnaires were used and body composition assessed using anthropometry and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gender-specific multivariate analyses showed boys with high levels of total PA and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) exhibited significantly lower levels of total body fat, percent body fat and android fat mass compared with low PA and MVPA groups, after adjusting for potential confounders. Girls with high SB levels showed significantly higher BMI, waist circumference and DXA-derived body fat indices than those at lower SB level. Multiple logistic analyses indicated that boys with low levels of total PA and MVPA had significantly greater obesity risk, 3.0 (OR 3.0; 95% CI, 1.1-8.1; p < 0.05) and 3.8-fold (OR 3.8; 95% CI, 1.4-10.1; p < 0.01), respectively, than more active boys. Only in girls with high SB level was there a significantly increased risk of obesity, 2.9 times higher than girls at low SP levels (OR 2.8; 95% CI, 1.0-7.5; p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present findings indicate that higher PA duration and intensity reduced body fat and obesity risk while high screen-based sedentary behaviors significantly adversely influenced body fat mass, particularly amongst girls when the PA level was low.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia. peysze1985@msn.com.
authors.forename: Pey Sze
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Teo
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nurul-Fadhilah
authors.affiliation: School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia. drezane@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mohd Ezane
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Aziz
authors.affiliation: Centre for Nutrition and Exercise, Mater Research Institute, University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia. andrew.hills@mater.uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Andrew P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Hills
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia. lhfoo2012@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Leng Huat
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Foo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001823:Body Composition; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult