Meal pattern of university students and its relationship with body mass index (BMI) and the risk of eating disorders

Nazman, Bibi Imin Haiyin (2025) Meal pattern of university students and its relationship with body mass index (BMI) and the risk of eating disorders. Project Report. Universiti Sains Malaysia. (Submitted)

[img] PDF
Download (248kB)

Abstract

Eating disorders are critical psychiatric disorders that are determined by ongoing abnormalities in eating habits and associated thinking and feelings about foodstuff, body weight, and build up. This cross-sectional study examined the correlation between the meal pattern, body mass index (BMI), and risk of an eating disorder (ED) amongst the 206 undergraduate students at Universiti Sains Malaysia Health Campus. Anthropometric measurements were taken and data recorded using structured self-administered questionnaires which were developed based on NHMS 2014 Meal Pattern Questionnaire and the Malay-validated EAT-26. Results showed that breakfast was the greatest meal not consumed with 56.3% eating it less than four times a week whereas lunch and dinner were taken regularly. Majority of students accessed food in campus cafeteria and dined alone. A remarkable 90.3% were found at risk of ED and it was considerably more prevalent in females (p=0.031) and Malay students (p=0.040). Nevertheless, statistical results indicated no significant association between frequency of breakfast (p=0.673), lunch (p=0.840), dinner (p=0.779), or heavy meals after dinner (p=0.111) with BMI, or with ED risk (all p-values > 0.05). These results show that abnormal meal patterns do not necessarily have direct implications in expedited health outcomes, unless other lifestyle and psychological factors are taken into account. The research presents the necessity of interaction between nutrition and mental health intervention specifically designed to address the university population to promote better health behavior and assist in the prevention of ED

Item Type: Monograph (Project Report)
Uncontrolled Keywords: body mass index
Subjects: R Medicine
Divisions: Kampus Kesihatan (Health Campus) > Pusat Pengajian Sains Kesihatan (School of Health Sciences) > Monograph
Depositing User: MUHAMMAD AKIF AIMAN AB SHUKOR
Date Deposited: 20 Jan 2026 04:19
Last Modified: 04 Mar 2026 08:02
URI: http://eprints.usm.my/id/eprint/63467

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item
USM Repository is powered by EPrints 3 which is developed by the School of Electronics and Computer Science at the University of Southampton. More information and software credits.
Share