TY - JOUR
T1 - Gender differences in dietary intake and physical activity among university students
T2 - a post-COVID-19 pandemic study
AU - Chong, Chyi Yann
AU - Tan, Chin Xuan
AU - Tsai, Meng Che
AU - Tan, Seok Shin
AU - Hariyono, Hariyono
AU - Tan, Seok Tyug
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited.
PY - 2024/9/11
Y1 - 2024/9/11
N2 - Purpose: Malaysia transitions from a pandemic to an endemic state, beginning on April 1, 2022. The dietary intake and physical activity of university students were altered during the COVID-19 pandemic confinement period, but there is limited information on this topic in the post-COVID-19 period. This cross-sectional study aims to understand gender differences in dietary intake and physical activity among university students and investigate the factors influencing their body mass index (BMI) in the post-COVID-19 period. Design/methodology/approach: The questionnaire used in this study comprised three main segments: sociodemographic information, a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Findings: Results indicated that males exhibited significantly higher (p < 0.05) mean intakes of total dietary energy and macronutrients compared to females. Compared to the Malaysian Recommended Nutrient Intakes 2017, 76.4% of males and 68.8% of females had a sufficient daily energy intake. The majority of males (52.7%) and females (46.4%) were moderately physically active. Regression analysis revealed that male university students with lower fiber intake (ß = −0.309, p = 0.002) were significantly associated with higher BMI reading after confounding adjustment. However, a similar trend was not observed in female university students. Practical implications: Understanding the gender differences in dietary intake and physical activity can provide insights into the development of effective gender-specific health promotion strategies and the formulation of policies aimed at promoting healthier lifestyles among university students in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era. Originality/value: This study provides insights into the gender differences in the dietary and physical activity habits of university students, as well as the factors influencing their BMI in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era.
AB - Purpose: Malaysia transitions from a pandemic to an endemic state, beginning on April 1, 2022. The dietary intake and physical activity of university students were altered during the COVID-19 pandemic confinement period, but there is limited information on this topic in the post-COVID-19 period. This cross-sectional study aims to understand gender differences in dietary intake and physical activity among university students and investigate the factors influencing their body mass index (BMI) in the post-COVID-19 period. Design/methodology/approach: The questionnaire used in this study comprised three main segments: sociodemographic information, a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Findings: Results indicated that males exhibited significantly higher (p < 0.05) mean intakes of total dietary energy and macronutrients compared to females. Compared to the Malaysian Recommended Nutrient Intakes 2017, 76.4% of males and 68.8% of females had a sufficient daily energy intake. The majority of males (52.7%) and females (46.4%) were moderately physically active. Regression analysis revealed that male university students with lower fiber intake (ß = −0.309, p = 0.002) were significantly associated with higher BMI reading after confounding adjustment. However, a similar trend was not observed in female university students. Practical implications: Understanding the gender differences in dietary intake and physical activity can provide insights into the development of effective gender-specific health promotion strategies and the formulation of policies aimed at promoting healthier lifestyles among university students in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era. Originality/value: This study provides insights into the gender differences in the dietary and physical activity habits of university students, as well as the factors influencing their BMI in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85192578154&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85192578154&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1108/NFS-01-2024-0015
DO - 10.1108/NFS-01-2024-0015
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85192578154
SN - 0034-6659
VL - 54
SP - 1190
EP - 1201
JO - Nutrition and Food Science
JF - Nutrition and Food Science
IS - 7
ER -