Factors That Contribute To The Percentage Of Body Fat Among Malaysian Adolescents

Abstract

Obesity or excess body fat in adolescents has become an increasing clinical and public health concern worldwide. In adolescents, body fat accumulation is a complex interaction of dietary, physical activity, genetic, environment and social factor. This study aims to determine the factors that contribute to the percentage of body fat among Malaysian adolescents. A non-experimental cross sectional study was carried out among Form One and Two secondary students (11 to 15 years old) in Kedah and Pulau Pinang. Respondents were selected from a three-staged stratified random sampling from schools that fulfilled the inclusion criteria of co-educational, multiracial composition, nonreligious and non-residential. Of the 6555 respondents (screening), the prevalence of underweight, normal weight and overweight was 11.3%, 70.9% and 17.7% respectively. While underweight prevalence was higher among the rural adolescents, prevalence of overweight was higher among the urban adolescents. Body Mass Index measurements (n = 769) was found to be a good measure of percentage of body fat (sensitivity and specificity).