Nutr Res Pract.  2015 Oct;9(5):511-516. 10.4162/nrp.2015.9.5.511.

Evaluation of diet quality and its associated factors among adolescents in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

• Rezali FW
• Chin YS
• Mohd Shariff Z
• Mohd Yusof BN
• Sanker K
• Woon FC

• KMID: 2313872
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2015.9.5.511

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES
This study aims to determine contribution of meal frequency, self-efficacy for healthy eating, and availability of healthy foods towards diet quality of adolescents in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
SUBJECTS/METHODS
This study was conducted among 373 adolescents aged from 13 to 16 years old. Diet quality of the respondents was assessed using the Healthy Eating Index for Malaysians. Meal frequency, self-efficacy for healthy eating, and availability of healthy foods were assessed through the Eating Behaviours Questionnaire (EBQ), self-efficacy for healthy eating scale, and availability of healthy foods scale, respectively.
RESULTS
The majority of the respondents (80.7%) were at risk of poor diet quality. Males (mean = 34.2 +/- 8.2%) had poorer diet quality than females (mean = 39.9 +/- 9.0%) (t = -5.941, P < 0.05). Malay respondents (mean = 36.9 +/- 8.7%) had poorer diet quality than Indian respondents (mean = 41.3 +/- 10.0%) (F = 2.762, P < 0.05). Age (r = 0.123, P < 0.05), self-efficacy for healthy eating (r = 0.129, P < 0.05), and availability of healthy foods (r = 0.159, P < 0.05) were positively correlated with the diet quality of the respondents. However, meal frequency was not correlated with the diet quality of the respondents. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that being a male, being a Malay, low self-efficacy for healthy eating, and low availability of healthy foods contributed significantly towards poor diet quality among respondents.
CONCLUSIONS
In short, sex, ethnicity, self-efficacy for healthy eating, and availability of healthy foods were associated with diet quality among adolescents. Health practitioners should take into consideration of differences in sex and ethnicity during implementation of nutrition-related intervention programs. Self-efficacy for healthy eating and availability of healthy foods should be included as important components in improving diet quality of adolescents.

Keyword

Diet quality; meal frequency; self-efficacy; adolescents

MeSH Terms

Adolescent*
Surveys and Questionnaires
Diet*
Eating
Female
Humans
Linear Models
Malaysia*
Male
Meals

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Distribution of respondents by diet quality category (n = 373). Chi-square analysis with significance at P < 0.05 (χ2 = 12.350, P < 0.05)

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