title: Factors associated with physical inactivity among school-going adolescents: data from the Malaysian School-Based Nutrition Survey 2012.
abstract: The importance of physical activity to health is well recognized. Good health habits should begin from a young age. This article aims to explore physical activity among Malaysian school adolescents and factors associated with it. Data from the Malaysian School-Based Nutrition Survey (MSNS), comprising a nationally representative sample of school-going children aged 10 to 17 years, were used. The overall prevalence of physically inactive adolescents was 57.3%. Age in years (adjusted odds ratio = 1.2; 95% confidence interval = 1.16-1.23), gender - females (adjusted odds ratio = 2.9; 95% confidence interval = 2.66-3.10), afternoon school session, breakfast consumption (no breakfast and irregular breakfast), body mass index status (obese and underweight), and body weight perception (underweight perceivers) were significant factors associated with physical inactivity among Malaysian adolescents. Thus, there is evidence that programs to promote physical activity in this group should consider the combination of the aforementioned factors at the household, school, and community levels.
authors: Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ps_azlibaharudin@moh.gov.my.
authors: Azli
authors: A
authors: Baharudin
authors: Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Ahmad Ali
authors: AA
authors: Zainuddin
authors: Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Mala A
authors: MA
authors: Manickam
authors: Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Rashidah
authors: R
authors: Ambak
authors: Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Mohamad Hasnan
authors: MH
authors: Ahmad
authors: Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Balkish Mahadir
authors: BM
authors: Naidu
authors: Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Siew Man
authors: SM
authors: Cheong
authors: Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Chan Ying
authors: CY
authors: Ying
authors: Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors: Hazizi Abu
authors: HA
authors: Saad
authors: Institute for Public Health, Ministry of Health, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors: Noor Ani
authors: NA
authors: Ahmad
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Malaysian School-Based Nutrition Survey; Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C); adolescents; physical inactivity; school session