Abhinitha Padavinangadi1, Lee Zi Xuan2, Nishalini Chandrasekaran2, Nursyahirah Johari2, Naveen Kumar3, Raghu Jetti4. 1. Senior Grade Lecturer, Department of Anatomy, Melaka Manipal Medical College (Manipal Campus), Manipal University , Manipal, Udupi, Karnataka, India . 2. Student, Melaka Manipal Medical College (Manipal Campus), Manipal University , Manipal, Udupi, Karnataka, India . 3. Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Melaka Manipal Medical College (Manipal Campus), Manipal University , Manipal, Udupi, Karnataka, India . 4. Assistant Professor, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University , Abha, Grainger, Saudi Arabia .
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Diverse factors influence an individual's ability to successfully achieve and maintain energy balance consistent with a healthy body weight. Eating frequency is one among the varied feature that thought to have a direct impact on the body weight gain. AIM: The present cross-sectional study has been carried out with the intention of awareness of food habit that specifically emphasize the frequency of eating and its effect on weight gain of an individual. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved 265 medical undergraduate students. Faculty validated close ended questionnaire was distributed to the students and the responses given by them were then analysed. Statistical evaluation of data with Spearman correlation coefficient (r) was done. RESULTS: Among the total 265 participants, 177 (66.8%) were noted to have normal Body Mass Index (BMI 18.5-24.9). Out of them, 113 (64%) found to have eating frequency 3-4 meals/day, 44 (25%) with 1-2 meals/day, 18 (10%) with 5-6 meals/day and 2 (1%) with more than 6 meals/day. Low positive correlation (r=0.09) between mean frequency of eating and the number of subjects with normal BMI was observed. CONCLUSION: An increase in the eating frequency can also be correlated with an increased prevalence of normal BMI individuals provided adequate physical exercise.
INTRODUCTION: Diverse factors influence an individual's ability to successfully achieve and maintain energy balance consistent with a healthy body weight. Eating frequency is one among the varied feature that thought to have a direct impact on the body weight gain. AIM: The present cross-sectional study has been carried out with the intention of awareness of food habit that specifically emphasize the frequency of eating and its effect on weight gain of an individual. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved 265 medical undergraduate students. Faculty validated close ended questionnaire was distributed to the students and the responses given by them were then analysed. Statistical evaluation of data with Spearman correlation coefficient (r) was done. RESULTS: Among the total 265 participants, 177 (66.8%) were noted to have normal Body Mass Index (BMI 18.5-24.9). Out of them, 113 (64%) found to have eating frequency 3-4 meals/day, 44 (25%) with 1-2 meals/day, 18 (10%) with 5-6 meals/day and 2 (1%) with more than 6 meals/day. Low positive correlation (r=0.09) between mean frequency of eating and the number of subjects with normal BMI was observed. CONCLUSION: An increase in the eating frequency can also be correlated with an increased prevalence of normal BMI individuals provided adequate physical exercise.
Entities:
Keywords:
Body weight; Disease control; Food frequency; Physical exercise
Authors: Robert J Kuczmarski; Cynthia L Ogden; Shumei S Guo; Laurence M Grummer-Strawn; Katherine M Flegal; Zuguo Mei; Rong Wei; Lester R Curtin; Alex F Roche; Clifford L Johnson Journal: Vital Health Stat 11 Date: 2002-05