title: Coming of age, becoming obese: a cross-sectional analysis of obesity among adolescents and young adults in Malaysia.
abstract: Malaysians have become increasingly obese over recent years. The transition from adolescence to early adulthood is recognized as critical for the development of eating and activity habits. However, little obesity-related research focuses on this life stage. Drawing on data from a health and demographic surveillance site in Malaysia, this article describes obesity and overweight amongst adolescents and young adults in a multi-ethnic population.
  
  
  
  Data were collected at the South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO) in Segamat District, Johor. In this dynamic cohort of approximately 40,000 people, 5,475 were aged 16-35 in 2013-2014. The population consists of Malay, Chinese, Indian and Indigenous (Orang Asli) families in proportions that reflect the national ethnic diversity. Data were collected through health profiles (Body Mass Index [BMI] measurements in homes) and self-report questionnaires.
  
  
  
  Age and ethnicity were associated with overweight (BMI 25.0-29.9Kg/m2) and obesity (BMI ≥ 30Kg/m2). The prevalence of overweight was 12.8 % at ages 16-20 and 28.4 % at ages 31-35; obesity was 7.9 % and 20.9 % at the same age groups. The main ethnic groups also showed varied patterns of obesity and overweight at the different age groups with Chinese at lowest and Orang Asli at highest risk. Level of education, employment status, physical activity and frequency of eating out were poorly predictive of overweight and obesity.
  
  
  
  The pattern of overweight and obesity in the 16-35 age group further highlights this as a significant period for changes in health-related behaviours. Further longitudinal research is however needed to confirm the observed pattern and investigate causal factors.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Social Science and Global Health, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 166, 1018 WV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. c.l.pell@uva.nl.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pell
authors.affiliation: South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO), 6th Floor, Wisma Centrepoint, Jalan Sia Her Yam, 85000, Segamat, Johor, Malaysia.|Global Public Health, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500 Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Pascale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Allotey
authors.affiliation: EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Van der Boechorststraat 7, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: Centre for Social Science and Global Health, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 166, 1018 WV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hardon
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Welfare, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, University of Indonesia Puri Depok Mas Blok P-39, Depok, 16436, West Java, Indonesia.
authors.forename: Johanna D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Imelda
authors.affiliation: South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO), 6th Floor, Wisma Centrepoint, Jalan Sia Her Yam, 85000, Segamat, Johor, Malaysia.|Centre for Population Health Sciences, Medical School, University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, Scotland.
authors.forename: Ireneous
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Soyiri
authors.affiliation: South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO), 6th Floor, Wisma Centrepoint, Jalan Sia Her Yam, 85000, Segamat, Johor, Malaysia.|Global Public Health, Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 47500 Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Daniel D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Reidpath
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adolescents; Malaysia; Obesity; Overweight; Physical activity