School environment associated with obesity in Malaysian schoolchildren

Sharifah Wajihah Wafa, Syed Saadun Tarek Wafa and Rasyidah, Ghazalli (2019) School environment associated with obesity in Malaysian schoolchildren. In: 10th Asian Oceanian Conference on Obesity (AOCO), 29-31 Aug 2019, Seoul, Korea.

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Abstract

Objective: To determine the potential factors in a school environment context that can impact on obesity of school children. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional study involving 400 primary school children aged 9 to 11 years. School principals were interviewed face-to-face using a set of validated Malay version “Whole- school Environmental Mapping” questionnaire that consists of four domains of school environment factors: physical, economic, political and socio-cultural environment. In addition, observation of school environment also included in order to fit the list of environmental factors in this study. The schoolchildren were assessed for body mass index (BMI) according to WHO 2007 reference. Associations between school environment and obesity were estimated in multiple linear regression models. Results: Overall, the total score for the school environment was 63.1%. Rural school scored higher compared to urban counterpart for overall school environment, physical and political environment (p<0.05). In multiple linear regression analysis, seven criteria of school environment were found to be associated with BMI of schoolchildren when it was adjusted for calorie intake and physical activity. The findings showed that 33.4% of the variation in BMI was explained by equation BMI (kg/m2 )= 26.396-3.063 (health professional involvement) - 3.753 (simple exercise available before class) + 1.120 (encouragement of walking/riding bicycle to school) - 2.999 (no high calorie food) - 1.751(healthy foods and drinks at tuck shop) - 2.735 (policy for physical activity) + 1.498 (training teacher as a role model). Conclusion: Awareness and enhancement of school environment are needed in order to reduce the prevalence of obesity in children. Supporting such schools in a targeted way may be an efficient way to intervene and could impact both health and academic outcomes.

Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Subjects: L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB1501 Primary Education
R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Divisions: Faculty of Health Sciences
Depositing User: Muhammad Akmal Azhar
Date Deposited: 28 Jan 2021 07:18
Last Modified: 28 Jan 2021 07:18
URI: http://eprints.unisza.edu.my/id/eprint/2555

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