Ethnic Differences in the Food Intake Patterns and Its Associated Factors of Adolescents in Kelantan, Malaysia.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to identify the ethnic differences in dietary patterns and its association with socio-economic, dietary and lifestyle practices among adolescents in Kelantan, Malaysia.


METHODS
A population-based study of 454 adolescents aged 12 to 19 years was included. A validated food frequency questionnaire was used to assess dietary patterns and three dietary patterns were identified based on the principal component analysis method.


RESULTS
Malay adolescents had significantly higher scores for the Western-based food pattern and local-based food pattern, whereas Chinese adolescents showed higher scores for the healthy-based food pattern. Multivariate analyses show that age and physical activity (PA) levels were positively associated with healthy-based food pattern in Malay (All, p < 0.001), whereas higher consumption of eating-out from home (EatOut) (p = 0.014) and fast food (p = 0.041) were negatively associated. High weekly breakfast skipping (p < 0.001) and EatOut (p = 0.003) were positively associated with a Western-based pattern, whereas age (p < 0.001) and household income (p = 0.005) were negatively associated. Higher frequency of daily snacking (p = 0.013) was positively associated with local-based food pattern. For Chinese adolescents, age (p < 0.001), PA levels (p < 0.001) and maternal education level (p = 0.035) showed positive associations with the healthy-based pattern, whereas high EatOut (p = 0.001) and fast food intakes (p = 0.001) were negatively associated. Higher weekly consumption of EatOut (p = 0.007), fast food (p = 0.023) and carbonated beverages (p = 0.023), and daily snacking practice (p = 0.004) were positively associated with higher Western-based food pattern, whereas age (p = 0.004) was inversely associated.


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed that there were significant differences in dietary patterns and its association factors between Malay and Chinese adolescents. More importantly, these findings suggest that unhealthy dietary and lifestyle practices could increase the risk of adherence to unhealthy Western-based food pattern that is high in fat, sugar and salt contents, and, consequently, increase the risk of developing obesity and metabolic-related disorders during these critical years of growth.
Programme of Nutrition, School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan 16150, Malaysia. nfha_9802@yahoo.com.|Department of Health Science, Faculty of Sport Science and Coaching, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Proton City, Tanjung Malim, Perak 35900, Malaysia. nfha_9802@yahoo.com.
Nurul-Fadhilah
NF
Abdullah
Programme of Nutrition, School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan 16150, Malaysia. peysze1985@msn.com.|School of Biosciences, Taylor's University lakeside campus, Subang Jaya, Selangor 47500, Malaysia. peysze1985@msn.com.
Pey Sze
PS
Teo
Programme of Nutrition, School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Health Campus, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan 16150, Malaysia. lhfoo2012@gmail.com.
Leng Huat
LH
Foo
D000293:Adolescent; D017195:Adolescent Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000208:ethnology*; D002648:Child; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004435:Eating / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000502:physiology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008297:Male; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
adolescents; dietary; dietary patterns; food-frequency questionnaire; lifestyle practices