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@#Introduction: To identify the growth patterns of young children during the first two years of life according to gestational age, birth weight, and growth status at 24 months of age. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of 4,570 young children in Selangor. Data were extracted from children’s health records in government health clinics. Growth data were analysed using the Anthro Plus software that utilises the World Health Organization growth standards. Results: Generally, wasting prevalence was the highest at birth and 24 months, but stunting was more predominant from 1 to 21 months. Weight-for-age z-scores (WAZ), lengthfor-age z-scores (LAZ), and weight-for-length z-scores (WLZ) from birth to 24 months were within -3.00 to 0.00 standard deviation (SD) for pre-term low birth weight children, –1.50 to 0.00 SD for pre-term normal birth weight children, and –2.50 to 0.50 SD for full-term low birth weight children. While WAZ, LAZ, and WLZ from birth to 24 months for underweight/stunted/wasted children were within –2.50 to 0.50 SD, the values for overweight/obese (OV/OB) children were within –1.00 to 2.00 SD. For normal children, WAZ, LAZ, and WLZ exhibited comparable trends, with values within –1.00 to 0.00 SD from birth to 24 months. Conclusion: While stunting and wasting persisted as the most common forms of malnutrition in this sample of young children, the prevalence of OV/OB increased by 24 months. Interventions to promote child growth should focus not only on the prevention of undernutrition, but also on OV/OB.
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BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Understanding individual's intention, action and maintenance to increase fruit and vegetable intake is an initial step in designing nutrition or health promotion programs. This study aimed to determine stages of change to increase fruit and vegetable intake and its relationships with fruit and vegetable intake, self-efficacy, perceived benefits and perceived barriers. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 348 public university staff in Universiti Putra Malaysia. A pre-tested self-administered questionnaire and two days 24-hour diet recall were used. RESULTS: Half of the respondents (50%) were in preparation stage, followed by 43% in action/maintenance, 7% in pre-contemplation/contemplation stages. Respondents in action/maintenance stages had significantly higher self-efficacy (F = 9.17, P < 0.001) and perceived benefits (F = 5.07, P < 0.01) while respondents in pre-contemplation/contemplation and preparation stages had significantly higher perceived barriers (F = 4.83, P < 0.05). Perceived benefits tend to outweigh perceived barriers pre-ceding to taking action. Self-efficacy is important in motivating individuals to increase fruit and vegetable intake as self-efficacy and perceived barriers crossed over between preparation and action/maintenance. Respondents in action/maintenance stages had the highest adjusted mean serving of fruit and vegetable intake (F = 4.52, P < 0.05) but the intake did not meet recommendation. CONCLUSION: Intervention strategies should emphasize on increasing perceived benefits and building self-efficacy by providing knowledge and skills to consume a diet high in fruits and vegetables in order to promote healthy changes in having high fruit and vegetable intake.