Abstract
Diet-related non-communicable disease (DR-NCD) occurrence is a serious problem amongst Malaysian women and urbanization is
probably a challenge to their achieving the nutritional environment conducive to healthy eating. This case study aimed to
determine diet quality of an urban community using women respondents from high rise dwellings in Kuala Lumpur. The sample
consisted of 135 households and a healthy eating index (HEI) scale was used to evaluate the women’s diet quality. A total
of 128 women (Malays = 45, Chinese = 56, Indian = 27) participated. Total HEI score was significantly different (P < 0.05) within ethnicity (Indians = 75.7 ± 8.1 <Malays = 80.5 ± 7.4 <Chinese = 80.1 ± 8.1) and affected by component scores
for fruit (range 3.8–6.2, P = 0.044), sodium (range 7.8–9.0, P = 0.006) and food variety (range 9.3–9.9, P = 0.001). Dairy foods rated poorly (range 2.0–3.9, P > 0.05) regardless of ethnicity. Income strata (ρ = 0.159, P = 0.048) and eating out frequency (ρ = −0.149, P = 0.046) also independently affected HEI scores. Income negatively correlated with sodium restriction score (ρ = −0.294,
P = 0.001) but positively with cereals (ρ = 0.181; P = 0.025), fruits (ρ = 0.178; P = 0.022), dairy products (ρ = 0.198; P = 0.013) and food variety (ρ = 0.219, P = 0.007). Decreased vegetable intake (ρ = −0.320; P < 0.001) and sodium excess (ρ = −0.135, P = 0.065) were associated with eating out frequency and poor HEI scores. This case study suggests health promotion for DR-NCD
prevention is needed at the community level to improve diet quality of urban women.
probably a challenge to their achieving the nutritional environment conducive to healthy eating. This case study aimed to
determine diet quality of an urban community using women respondents from high rise dwellings in Kuala Lumpur. The sample
consisted of 135 households and a healthy eating index (HEI) scale was used to evaluate the women’s diet quality. A total
of 128 women (Malays = 45, Chinese = 56, Indian = 27) participated. Total HEI score was significantly different (P < 0.05) within ethnicity (Indians = 75.7 ± 8.1 <Malays = 80.5 ± 7.4 <Chinese = 80.1 ± 8.1) and affected by component scores
for fruit (range 3.8–6.2, P = 0.044), sodium (range 7.8–9.0, P = 0.006) and food variety (range 9.3–9.9, P = 0.001). Dairy foods rated poorly (range 2.0–3.9, P > 0.05) regardless of ethnicity. Income strata (ρ = 0.159, P = 0.048) and eating out frequency (ρ = −0.149, P = 0.046) also independently affected HEI scores. Income negatively correlated with sodium restriction score (ρ = −0.294,
P = 0.001) but positively with cereals (ρ = 0.181; P = 0.025), fruits (ρ = 0.178; P = 0.022), dairy products (ρ = 0.198; P = 0.013) and food variety (ρ = 0.219, P = 0.007). Decreased vegetable intake (ρ = −0.320; P < 0.001) and sodium excess (ρ = −0.135, P = 0.065) were associated with eating out frequency and poor HEI scores. This case study suggests health promotion for DR-NCD
prevention is needed at the community level to improve diet quality of urban women.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-9
- DOI 10.1007/s10900-012-9597-1
- Authors
- Tilakavati Karupaiah, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Healthcare Sciences, National University of Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Winnie Chee Siew Swee, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, International Medical University, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Siew Ying Liew, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Healthcare Sciences, National University of Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Boon Koon Ng, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Healthcare Sciences, National University of Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, 50300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Karuthan Chinna, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 56750 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Journal Journal of Community Health
- Online ISSN 1573-3610
- Print ISSN 0094-5145