Analysis of Obesity among Malaysian University Students: A Combination Study with the Application of Bayesian Structural Equation Modelling and Pearson Correlation

Che Wan Jasimah Wan Mohamed Radzi, Hashem Salarzadeh Jenatabadi, Ayed R. A. Alanzi, Mohd Istajib Mokhtar, Mohd Zufri Mamat and Nor Aishah Abdullah
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Che Wan Jasimah Wan Mohamed Radzi: Department of Science and Technology Studies, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
Hashem Salarzadeh Jenatabadi: Department of Science and Technology Studies, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
Ayed R. A. Alanzi: Department of Mathematics, College of Science and Human Studies at Hotat Sudair, Majmaah University, Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia
Mohd Istajib Mokhtar: Department of Science and Technology Studies, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
Mohd Zufri Mamat: Department of Science and Technology Studies, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
Nor Aishah Abdullah: Department of Science and Technology Studies, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 3, 1-17

Abstract: In obesity modelling studies, researchers have been seeking to identify the effective indicators of obesity by using appropriate statistical or mathematical techniques. The main objective of the present study is addressed in three stages. First, a new framework for modelling obesity in university students is introduced. The second stage involves data analysis based on Bayesian Structural Equation Modelling (BSEM) for estimating the Body Mass Index (BMI) (representative of the obesity level) of students at three university levels: Bachelor, Master and PhD. In the third stage, the highest significant correlation is determined between the BMI and other variables in the research model that were found significant through the second phase. The data for this study were collected from students at selected Malaysian universities. The results indicate that unhealthy food intake (fast food and soft drinks), social media use and stress exhibit the highest weightage contributing to overweight and obesity issues for Malaysian university students.

Keywords: obesity modelling; structural equation modelling; Pearson correlation; comparison study (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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