Relationships between digital screen time, dietary behaviour, lifestyle patterns and Body Mass Index in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed individual's dietary habits and lifestyles. University students are at risk of developing weight problems due to changes in eating and lifestyle habits imposed by the switch to online learning. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the relationships between...

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Main Authors: Lim, See Meng, Liew, Wen Huey, Wong, Jyh Eiin
Format: Article
Language:en
Published: Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2024
Online Access:http://journalarticle.ukm.my/26237/2/4.pdf
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/26237/
https://www.ukm.my/personalia/publication-category/volume-27-number-3-december-2024/
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author Lim, See Meng
Liew, Wen Huey
Wong, Jyh Eiin
author_facet Lim, See Meng
Liew, Wen Huey
Wong, Jyh Eiin
author_sort Lim, See Meng
building Tun Sri Lanang Library
collection Institutional Repository
content_provider Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
content_source UKM Journal Article Repository
continent Asia
country Malaysia
description The COVID-19 pandemic has changed individual's dietary habits and lifestyles. University students are at risk of developing weight problems due to changes in eating and lifestyle habits imposed by the switch to online learning. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the relationships between dietary behaviour, lifestyle, digital screen time and body mass index (BMI) among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 253 university students between October and November 2021. Data were collected on sociodemographic, anthropometrics, dietary behaviour, screen time and lifestyle habits using an online questionnaire. Laptop and desktop screen time used for entertainment was significantly lower in students who studied online (p<0.05). Most students skipped main meals (71.9%) but snacked between meals (85.8%). Students who underwent online classes (online students) consumed more fruits and vegetables than students undergoing hybrid learning (p=0.035). Compared to online students, hybrid students dined out more often during the pandemic (p<0.001), bought meals from outside (p<0.001) and ate with friends (p<0.001). There were weak negative relationships between BMI and consumption of fruits and vegetables (r=-0.199, p<0.01) and carbohydrate sources (r=-0.185, p<0.01) and frequency of physical activity (r=-0.194, p<0.01). There was a weak positive correlation between BMI and frequency of dinner consumption (r=0.203, p<0.01) and home-based workouts (p<0.01). In conclusion, dietary behaviour and lifestyle patterns during the pandemic were associated with BMI among Klang Valley university students. These findings suggest that promoting healthy lifestyles among university students is important for improving body weight management and overall well-being.
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spelling my-ukm.journal.262372025-11-21T03:00:46Z http://journalarticle.ukm.my/26237/ Relationships between digital screen time, dietary behaviour, lifestyle patterns and Body Mass Index in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic Lim, See Meng Liew, Wen Huey Wong, Jyh Eiin The COVID-19 pandemic has changed individual's dietary habits and lifestyles. University students are at risk of developing weight problems due to changes in eating and lifestyle habits imposed by the switch to online learning. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the relationships between dietary behaviour, lifestyle, digital screen time and body mass index (BMI) among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 253 university students between October and November 2021. Data were collected on sociodemographic, anthropometrics, dietary behaviour, screen time and lifestyle habits using an online questionnaire. Laptop and desktop screen time used for entertainment was significantly lower in students who studied online (p<0.05). Most students skipped main meals (71.9%) but snacked between meals (85.8%). Students who underwent online classes (online students) consumed more fruits and vegetables than students undergoing hybrid learning (p=0.035). Compared to online students, hybrid students dined out more often during the pandemic (p<0.001), bought meals from outside (p<0.001) and ate with friends (p<0.001). There were weak negative relationships between BMI and consumption of fruits and vegetables (r=-0.199, p<0.01) and carbohydrate sources (r=-0.185, p<0.01) and frequency of physical activity (r=-0.194, p<0.01). There was a weak positive correlation between BMI and frequency of dinner consumption (r=0.203, p<0.01) and home-based workouts (p<0.01). In conclusion, dietary behaviour and lifestyle patterns during the pandemic were associated with BMI among Klang Valley university students. These findings suggest that promoting healthy lifestyles among university students is important for improving body weight management and overall well-being. Penerbit Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia 2024-12 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://journalarticle.ukm.my/26237/2/4.pdf Lim, See Meng and Liew, Wen Huey and Wong, Jyh Eiin (2024) Relationships between digital screen time, dietary behaviour, lifestyle patterns and Body Mass Index in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jurnal Personalia Pelajar, 27 (3). pp. 21-34. ISSN 0128-2735 https://www.ukm.my/personalia/publication-category/volume-27-number-3-december-2024/
spellingShingle Lim, See Meng
Liew, Wen Huey
Wong, Jyh Eiin
Relationships between digital screen time, dietary behaviour, lifestyle patterns and Body Mass Index in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic
title Relationships between digital screen time, dietary behaviour, lifestyle patterns and Body Mass Index in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic
title_full Relationships between digital screen time, dietary behaviour, lifestyle patterns and Body Mass Index in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic
title_fullStr Relationships between digital screen time, dietary behaviour, lifestyle patterns and Body Mass Index in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic
title_full_unstemmed Relationships between digital screen time, dietary behaviour, lifestyle patterns and Body Mass Index in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic
title_short Relationships between digital screen time, dietary behaviour, lifestyle patterns and Body Mass Index in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic
title_sort relationships between digital screen time, dietary behaviour, lifestyle patterns and body mass index in university students during the covid-19 pandemic
url http://journalarticle.ukm.my/26237/2/4.pdf
http://journalarticle.ukm.my/26237/
https://www.ukm.my/personalia/publication-category/volume-27-number-3-december-2024/
url_provider http://journalarticle.ukm.my/