Relationship of self-regulation and lifestyle behaviour with overweight among male and female adolescents in Selangor

Anu Suria Ganason, . and Noor Azimah Muhammad, . and Gunenthira Rao, . and Hizlinda Tohid, . and Majmin Sheikh Hamzah, . and Khairani Omar, . (2022) Relationship of self-regulation and lifestyle behaviour with overweight among male and female adolescents in Selangor. Malaysian Journal of Nutrition (Malaysia), 28 (3). pp. 395-408. ISSN 1394 – 035X

Introduction: The ability of a person to self-regulate and practice healthy lifestyle behaviors determine one’s weight status. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship of self-regulation, dietary practices, and physical activity with overweight status among male and female adolescents. Methods: This cross sectional study used multistage cluster sampling involving government secondary school students aged between 13 and 14 years old in Hulu Langat, Selangor. Students answered a validated self-administered questionnaire comprising socio-demography, dietary practices, physical activity, and self-regulation items. Their body mass index (BMI) was calculated, and weight status was determined using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) BMI chart. Results: Among 636 students, 27.0% were “overweight”, affecting more male than female students (p=0.032). Majority of them (96.7%) were motivated to maintain healthy body weight, but only a third of the students took vegetables, fruits and grains (32.4%), and performed vigorous physical activity (31.1%) regularly. Regardless of the “overweight” status, there were no significant differences in dietary practices, physical activity, and autonomous regulation for both genders. Female students showed a higher level of controlled regulation than male students in non-overweight (p=0.005) and overweight (p<0.001) groups. Higher controlled regulation increased the odds of being overweight among female students (AOR=1.04, 95% CI=1.04-1.08, p=0.010). Conclusion: Thus, health authorities need to develop programmes to assist, particularly female students, in practicing higher autonomous regulation to combat overweight and obesity, as this group exhibits a high level of controlled regulation, which increases the likelihood of being overweight.

Full text available from: Official URL: https://www.nutriweb.org.my/mjn/publication/28-3/V...

Abstract

Introduction: The ability of a person to self-regulate and practice healthy lifestyle behaviors determine one’s weight status. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship of self-regulation, dietary practices, and physical activity with overweight status among male and female adolescents. Methods: This cross sectional study used multistage cluster sampling involving government secondary school students aged between 13 and 14 years old in Hulu Langat, Selangor. Students answered a validated self-administered questionnaire comprising socio-demography, dietary practices, physical activity, and self-regulation items. Their body mass index (BMI) was calculated, and weight status was determined using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) BMI chart. Results: Among 636 students, 27.0% were “overweight”, affecting more male than female students (p=0.032). Majority of them (96.7%) were motivated to maintain healthy body weight, but only a third of the students took vegetables, fruits and grains (32.4%), and performed vigorous physical activity (31.1%) regularly. Regardless of the “overweight” status, there were no significant differences in dietary practices, physical activity, and autonomous regulation for both genders. Female students showed a higher level of controlled regulation than male students in non-overweight (p=0.005) and overweight (p<0.001) groups. Higher controlled regulation increased the odds of being overweight among female students (AOR=1.04, 95% CI=1.04-1.08, p=0.010). Conclusion: Thus, health authorities need to develop programmes to assist, particularly female students, in practicing higher autonomous regulation to combat overweight and obesity, as this group exhibits a high level of controlled regulation, which increases the likelihood of being overweight.

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Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	adolescents
AGROVOC Term:	physical activity
AGROVOC Term:	body mass index
AGROVOC Term:	gender
AGROVOC Term:	overweight
AGROVOC Term:	obesity
AGROVOC Term:	human physiology
AGROVOC Term:	behaviour
AGROVOC Term:	human health
Geographical Term:	Malaysia
Uncontrolled Keywords:	school, self-regulation, students, weight status
Depositing User:	Ms. Azariah Hashim
Date Deposited:	29 Apr 2026 11:12
Last Modified:	29 Apr 2026 11:12
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/3108

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