Ultra-processed Food Consumption in Relation to BMI and Body Fat Percentage of Adults in Terengganu

ABSTRACT

@#Introduction: There is an emergent increase of ultra-processed food consumption in developing countries including Malaysia which carries a likelihood towards the increase of obesity. However, few studies have been done in relating between ultra-processed consumption and obesity, especially in Malaysia. Therefore, this study aims to determine the consumption of ultra-processed foods and its relationship with BMI and body fat percentage among university committee in Kuala Nerus, Terengganu. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed among 167 individuals aged 18 to 59 years old in Kuala Nerus. Data were collected using a researcher-administered questionnaire which consisted of three different sections socio-demographic profile, two days 24-hour dietary recall, and nutritional status assessment on BMI and body fat percentage. Consumption of ultra-processed foods were determined by classifying two days 24-hour dietary recall based on ultra-processed food classification. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0 with p<0.05 to indicate significant. Results: The results showed Group 4 (ultra-processed foods) contributes 23% of overall daily energy consumption while Group 1+2 (unprocessed or minimally processed food + culinary ingredients) and Group 3 (processed foods) had contributed 75% and 2% respectively. Results showed that there was no relationship found between the ultra-processed food consumption and nutritional status through spearmen correlation at p<0.05. Conclusion: It is evidently clear from the findings that the consumption of ultra-processed foods is providentially still low among the respondents.