Development of novel tool for the quantification of obesity related/ induced non genetics associated factors in Malaysia

• Main Authors: Norizan, Abdul Ghani, Yasrul Izad, Abu Bakar, Mohd Khairi, Zahri@Johari, Ahmad Zubaidi, A.latif, Nordin, Simbak, Atif Amin, Baig
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: 2017
• Subjects: H Social Sciences (General)
• Online Access: http://eprints.unisza.edu.my/5774/1/FH02-FSSG-18-13089.pdf; http://eprints.unisza.edu.my/5774/

Obesity is highly heterogeneous issue that is linked with associated factors, affecting social and economic development of the country. We have developed a tool for the quantification and curating of associated factors of obesity in Malaysia, as no proper valid tool is available till date to assess those factors associated with obesity with specification to multi- rationale, multi-ethnic and multi sub-ethnic population in Malaysia. Pubmed, Research Gate, BMC and Google Scholar were used as search engines for previous studies. Specific keywords were used, such as obesity in Malaysia, associated factors with obesity, socio-economic factors obesity tools, and obesity surveys. A total of 2000 studies were selected, and associated factors of obesity in Asian and Asean countries across the world were listed for the face validation among experts in Malaysia. The tool was constructed as per objective measures for the use among Malay obese attributes and for the comparison with normal healthy individuals. The tool was constructed with a total of 99 items subdivided into a total of 19 domains (sections) inclusive of 176 variables. The face validity was performed and questionnaire was distributed for its validity. The results of validity for translated version in future will help us to make this vital tool available in Malay language too for future use. Increasing ratio of obesity in Terengganu (>20%) is scientifically evidenced in Malaysia and to the best of our knowledge, there is still no proper tool available to measure the associated factors for interventional associated factors towards prevention and treatment of obesity. It is one of best tool, precisely addressing the variable for specific issues as per cited articles. Obesity experts evaluated this tool through face validation and have been followed through.