Perceptions of eating practices and physical activity among Malaysian adolescents in secondary schools: A qualitative study with multi-stakeholders

Mohammadi, Shooka and Su, Tin Tin and Papadaki, Angeliki and Jalaludin, Muhammad Yazid and Dahlui, Maznah and Mohamed, Mohd Nahar Azmi and Jago, Russell and Toumpakari, Zoi and Johnson, Laura and Majid, Hazreen Abdul (2021) Perceptions of eating practices and physical activity among Malaysian adolescents in secondary schools: A qualitative study with multi-stakeholders. Public Health Nutrition, 24 (8). pp. 2273-2285. ISSN 1368-9800, DOI https://doi.org/10.1017/S1368980020002293.

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Abstract

To conduct formative research using qualitative methods among stakeholders of secondary schools to explore their perceptions, barriers and facilitators related to healthy eating and physical activity (PA) among Malaysian adolescents. Design: A qualitative study involving eight focus groups and twelve in-depth interviews. Focus groups and interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. An inductive thematic analysis approach was used to analyse the data. Setting: Four secondary schools in Perak and Selangor states (two urban and two rural schools) in Malaysia. Participants: Focus groups were conducted with seventy-six adolescents aged 13-14 years, and in-depth interviews were conducted with four headmasters, four PA education teachers and four food canteen operators. Results: Stakeholders thought that adolescents' misperceptions, limited availability of healthy options, unhealthy food preferences and affordability were important challenges preventing healthy eating at school. Low-quality physical education (PE) classes, limited adolescent participation and teachers' commitment during lessons were perceived as barriers to adolescents being active at school. Affordability was the main challenge for adolescents from rural schools. Stakeholders perceived that a future school-based intervention should improve the availability and subsidies for healthy foods, provide health education/training for both adolescents and PE teachers, enhance active adolescent participation in PE and develop social support mechanisms to facilitate engagement with PA. Conclusions: These findings provide important insights into developing school-based lifestyle interventions to improve healthy eating and strengthening PA of Malaysian adolescents.

Item Type: Article
Funders: Academy of Sciences Malaysia (Newton Ungku Omar Fund)[IF017-2017], UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) Medical Research Council UK (MRC)[MR/P013821/1]
Uncontrolled Keywords: Diet;Physical activity;School-based;Adolescents;Malaysia
Subjects: R Medicine
R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine
R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics
R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics > Child health. Child health services
Divisions: Faculty of Medicine
Depositing User: Ms Zaharah Ramly
Date Deposited: 13 Sep 2022 03:02
Last Modified: 13 Sep 2022 03:02
URI: http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/34370

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