Association Between Sociodemographic Characteristics With Meal Source Preferences And Body Weight Status Among Young Adults in Terengganu

Abstract

Young adults are attracting widespread interest in health interventions due to the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity worldwide. Changes in urbanization and the environment are recognized as factors that alter early adolescent meal preferences towards negative eating habits such as a reduced intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains ansuch as a reduced intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes, meats and fish, and a higher intake of fast food, sweets food or beverages, legumes, meats and fish, and a higher intake of fast food, sweets food or beverages. . This cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the association of socio-demographic factors with meal source preferences and body weight status among young adults in Terengganu. A total of 399 young adults aged 18 to 35 years old were recruited as subjects. Participants were asked to complete an online self-administered questionnaire on sociodemographic and Meal Sources Preferences and Frequency Questionnaire. In general, young adults prefer to eat out-of-home meals on occasion basis. The study discovered that females and those who live in semi-urban and urban areas prefer home-cooked meals (HCMs). Education levels, marital status, employment status, and family income had no discernible relationships with the consumption of HCMs. Additionally, none of the sociodemographic factors substantially link to outside meals (OMs). However, the study managed to find association between OMs and body weight status. Most of the young adults prefer to have outside meals three to four times per week, regardless of their body weight status. Individuals who were overweight tends to choose outside meals more than home cooked meals. Given the limits of the study, more vigorous data collection would be required to unveil exactly how sociodemographic variables influence meal source preferences and body weight status.