This study is a secondary data analysis from the National Health Morbidity Survey III, a population-based study conducted in 2006. A total of 7,749 children between 7 and 12 years old were recruited into the study. This study seeks to report the prevalence of overweight (including obesity) children in Malaysia using international cut-off point and identify its associated key social determinants. The results show that the overall prevalence of overweight children in Malaysia was 19.9%. The urban residents, males, Chinese, those who are wealthy, have overweight or educated guardians showed higher prevalence of overweight. In multivariable analysis, higher likelihood of being overweight was observed among those with advancing age (OR=1.15), urban residents (OR=1.16, 95% CI: 1.01-1.36), the Chinese (OR=1.45, 95% CI: 1.19-1.77), boys (OR=1.23, 95% CI: 1.08-1.41), and those who came from higher income family. In conclusion, one out of five of 7-12 year-old-children in Malaysia were overweight. Locality of residence, ethnicity, gender, guardian education, and overweight guardian were likely to be the predictors of this alarming issue. Societal and public health efforts are needed in order to reduce the burden of disease associated with obesity.
:本研究採用2006 年馬來西亞全國第三次健康及疾病調查(National Health Morbidity Survey III)的二手資料,這個調查是根據人口抽樣的。共有 7,497 位,年齡介於7-12 歲的兒童納入研究。本研究目的在報告採用國際切 點時,馬來西亞過重(包括肥胖)兒童的盛行率,並確定其相關的主要社會決定 因素。結果顯示,馬來西亞整體兒童過重盛行率為19.9%。居住在城市、男 性、華裔、較富有的、家長為過重或受過教育的,這些兒童顯示有較高的過 重盛行率。在多元分析中發現, 過重的情況較可能發生在: 較年長 (OR=1.15)、居住在城市(OR= 1.16,95%CI: 1.01-1.36)、華裔(OR= 1.45,95% CI: 1.19 -1.77)、男孩(OR= 1.23,95%CI: 1.08-1.41)、及來自高收入家庭的孩 童。結論是,馬來西亞7-12 歲的孩童中,5 位中就有1 位為體重過重。居住 地、種族、性別、家長教育程度和過重的家長,可能是此要提高警訊的議題 之預測因子。為了減少與肥胖相關的疾病負擔,社會和公共衛生的努力是必 要的。