Mohammed Ali Abbod AL-Maliki
17219140/1
Combating Obesity
Among University Students
Background students contex, the prevalence of overweight
and obesity among college students in 22 low
Obesity has become one of the highest
and middle-income countries found that 22%
threats to public health, including university
were overweight or obese (24.7% are men and
students. According to the World Health 19.3% are women). This shows that obesity
Organization (WHO)(1), since 1975, the global among university students is a common issue in
obesity rate has nearly tripled. In Malaysia many countries, including Malaysia. According
context, it has the highest obesity rate in East to (3), the prevalence of overweight and obesity
and Southeast Asia. Obesity is a ssociated among Malaysian university students was 21.7%
with a higher risk of developing cardiovascular and 16.8%, respectively.
disease, metabolic syndrome and type II The psychological pressure of study and its
diabetes. Moreover, obesity may increase requirements, making the students put more
the risk of infection, hospitalization, clinically time and effort into fulfilling these requirements
severe disease, mechanical ventilation, ICU . Psychological stress is reported to be one of
admission, and mortality due to COVID-19, the determinants that influence weight gain
according to current evidence(2). through multiple pathways, including biological
Focusing on university students, the collegiate responses to such stress that leads to an increase
period is a critical time for altering physical in cortisol [4]. Also, stress has an impact on
activity, psychological status, and dietary behaviour which leads to an increase in food
patterns that lead to overweight and obesity in consumption (motional eating disorder) and a
college students and that might affect health, sedentary lifestyle.
academic performance and productivity of There is evidence that unhealthy food intake
the students (3). Obesity is also considered to
be the most significant preventable cause of
death.
The above discussion shows the need to act
comprehensively to stop the threat of obesity
and its health and socilal consequences for
college students. Therefore, this policy brief
aims to raise awareness of investment in, and
action for a set of cost-effective interventions
that can assist the Ministry of Higher Education,
universities’ leaders, and policymakers in
preventing the ongoing rises in obesity among
college students.
Current situation
Malaysia’s rapid development in recent decades
has altered lifestyles, which may contribute to an
increase in overweight and obesity. According to
the 2019 National Health and Morbidity Survey,
50.1% of Malaysian adults are overweight with
a total percentage of (30.4%) or obese with
a total percentage of (19.7%). In universities
(fast food and soft drinks), social media use and measures. Additionally, this strategy ignores
stress exhibit the highest weightage contributing some essential and critical risk factors that may
to overweight and obesity issues for Malaysian lead to overweight and obesity, such as academic
university students (5).Malaysian National Plan stress and how to handle it in universities.
of Action for Nutrition (NPANM) III, 2016–2025, Therefore, we need to pay more attention to
includes specific sections for higher education college students and design programs to address
institutes, but the gap is in implementing the risk factors associated with obesity among
and enforcing the recommended intervention them.
Recommendations
Advocate upstream and downstream levels of intervention to reduce obesity and mitigate
its health, academic, social consequence effects among college students.
The Ministry of Higher Education and universities’ leaders are recommended to
Healthy food Infrastructure for active Health education programs
environment transportation Design and carry out health
put a clear policy to Invest in and improve active education programs to increase
ban vending machines transportation infrastructure within university students’ awareness
in universities setting to universities to encourage walking and of the negative consequences of
limit access to soda and cycling among college students. obesity and the benefits of adopting
power drinks, establish a healthy lifestyle. Such programs
health standards and mush emphasize increasing self-
Coping skills efficacy among students regarding
menu labelling for the
meals served in university Adopt the Coping skills programs dieting and physical activity.
cafeterias, ensure the such as CTI intervention principle perceived threat (the sum of
provision of healthy and (Mindfulness training) to assist severity and susceptibility), cues
and affordable food students who are stressed in reducing to action, and the perceived self-
choices, and monitor the their stress levels. CTI helps to provide efficacy concerning dieting and
implementation of those active processes through which the physical activity has a significant
standards. participants can generate questions, association with the behavioural
express their thoughts and relevant intention of losing weight among
information, and discuss solutions college students (6).
regarding their stress, resulted from
their illogical beliefs instead of the
passive reception of information from
other sources (7). Motivation approach
Adopt a motivation program
to motivate college students
Collaborations to engage in healthier habits,
such as increasing fruit and
Collaborate with the Ministry of vegetable consumption and
Health and non-governmental maintaining physical activity
organizations involved in the levels through online lessons, like
fight against obesity in order to WebHealth Projec it is effective for
implement the World Health undergraduates and fresh students.
Organization’s and the In addition, decision-makers can
national strategies in a establish a club for college members
way that is consistent to share their weight-control
with the determinants knowledge and experiences and
and risk factors that mutually inspire other students.
affect college students, Marathons and competitive sports
such as response to leagues are conducted periodically.
stressful events.
.
Reference
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int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs311/en/
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health. 2021 Dec;21(1):1-4.
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A combination study with the application of Bayesian structural equation modelling
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