Assessment of Dietary, Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviours of Singapore Schooling Youths

Abstract

Unhealthy lifestyle behaviors may set youths on the path to developing non-communicable diseases. Singapore schooling youths (n = 235, 67.2% female, age 17.5 (mean) ± 1.0 (SD) years) were recruited to examine the dietary, alcohol use, physical activity, and sedentary behaviors of the Singapore schooling youths. Demographic, anthropometric, and sedentary hours information were collected using structured questionnaires. Physical activity levels and dietary intakes, including alcohol use, were assessed using the validated International Physical Activity Questionnaire - long-form and localized food frequency questionnaire, respectively. The surveyed youths consumed significantly larger daily amounts of energy, sugar, saturated fat, and sodium than the levels recommended by the Singapore Health Promotion Board. They did not achieve the daily amounts of dietary fiber, fruits, and vegetables, and derived unhealthy proportions of daily energy from sugar and saturated fat. They did not exceed the recommended maximum daily alcohol allowance. Close to all the youths (91.2%) failed to adhere to more than five of the nine recommended healthy eating habits. Majority of these youths (73.4%) partook less than 600 MET-minute/ week. A significant number of the youths (38.1%) spent more than eight sedentary hours daily. Physical activity correlated significantly with sedentary behavior levels, but not the dietary scores. Most surveyed youths engaged in low physical activity and high sedentary behavior, and did not comply with most of the healthy eating guidelines proposed by the Singapore Health Promotion Board, specifically on daily energy, sugar, dietary fibers, saturated fat, sodium, and fruit and vegetable intakes.