%0 Journal Article
%T Social and psychological factors affecting eating habits among university students in a Malaysian medical school: a cross-sectional study
%A Kurubaran Ganasegeran
%A Sami A R Al-Dubai
%A Ahmad M Qureshi
%A Al-abed A A Al-abed
%A Rizal A Manaf
%A Syed M Aljunid
%J Nutrition Journal
%D 2012
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1475-2891-11-48
%X A cross sectional study was conducted among 132 medical students of pre-clinical phase at a Malaysian university. A self-administered questionnaire was used which included questions on socio-demography, anthropometry, eating habits and psychosocial factors.Mean (¡ÀSD) age of the respondents was 22.7 (¡À2.4) years and (the age) ranged from 18 to 30£¿years. More than half had regular meals and breakfast (57.6% &, 56.1% respectively). Majority (73.5%) consumed fruits less than three times per week, 51.5% had fried food twice or more a week and 59.8% drank water less than 2 liters daily. Eating habits score was significantly low among younger students (18¨C22£¿years), smokers, alcohol drinkers and those who did not exercise. (p<0.05). Four psychological factors out of six, were significantly associated with eating habits (p<0.05). In multivariate analysis, age and ¡®eating because of feeling happy¡¯ were significantly associated with eating habits score (p<0.05).Most of the students in this study had healthy eating habits. Social and psychological factors were important determinants of eating habits among medical students.
%K Eating habits
%K Lifestyle
%K Malaysia medical students
%K Social and psychological
%U http://www.nutritionj.com/content/11/1/48/abstract