title: Association between behavioural factors and BMI-for-age among early adolescents in Hulu Langat district, Selangor, Malaysia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper investigates the association between behavioural factors and BMI-for-age among early adolescents (10-11 years old) in Hulu Langat district, Selangor.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was conducted among 333 primary school students. Body weight and height of the students were measured and their BMI-for-age was calculated. Eating behaviours, energy intake, energy expenditure, physical activity, and screen time were assessed using the Eating Behaviours Questionnaire and a 2-day dietary and physical activity recall, respectively. Data were analysed using multiple linear regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of overweight and obesity (28.2%) was about twice the prevalence of thinness (11.1%). The mean energy intake and energy expenditure of the students was 1772±441kcal/day and 1705±331kcal/day, respectively. Three in five of the students (60.1%) skipped at least one meal and 98.2% snacked between meals daily. A majority of them (55.3%) were sedentary. Low energy intake (p<0.05) and low energy expenditure (p<0.05) were associated with high BMI-for-age. Energy expenditure (β=-0.033) and energy intake (β=-0.090) significantly explained 65.1% of the variances in BMI-for-age (F=119.170, p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggested that promoting healthy eating and active lifestyle should be targeted in the prevention and management of obesity among early adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia. Electronic address: fuichee88@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Fui Chee
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Woon
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia. Electronic address: chinys@upm.edu.my.
authors.forename: Yit Siew
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mohd Taib
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Mohd Nasir
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011627:Puberty / Q000502:physiology* / Q000523:psychology; D057185:Sedentary Behavior
keywords: BMI-for-age; Dietary practices; Early adolescents; Physical activity; Screen time