Eating Habits of Malaysian Children: Findings of the South East Asian Nutrition Surveys (SEANUTS).
This article aims to describe the eating habits of Malaysian children using a nationally representative data set from the South East Asian Nutrition Surveys (SEANUTS) in Malaysia. A total of 2797 children aged 2 to 12 years were included in this analysis. Eating habits and dietary intakes of children were assessed using questionnaires. Overall, 56.1% of children consumed 3 main meals every day. Approximately 20% of children snacked 3 times per day, whereas 9.7% ate fast food on a weekly basis. Irregular meal patterns were significantly associated with lower micronutrient intakes, and the groups with higher odds for this pattern were older children, Malays, and those living in rural areas. Considering the relatively high rate of irregular meal consumption and its potential influence on dietary nutrient intake, persistent efforts must be continued to promote and inculcate healthy eating habits among children from an early age.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia pbkoon@ukm.edu.my.
Kar Hau
KH
Chong
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Suet Kei
SK
Wu
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Yatiman
Y
Noor Hafizah
FrieslandCampina Development Centre, Singapore.
Marjolijn C E
MC
Bragt
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Bee Koon
BK
Poh
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D009749:Nutrition Surveys
breakfast; children; dietary intake; eating habits; fast food intake; meal patterns; snacking habits