This study is aimed to evaluate the obesity level and promote a healthy lifestyle among students at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Perak. Fifteen male and fifteen female undergraduate students aged between 19 years to 24 years from each faculty of university Pendidikan Sultan Idris are randomly selected as samples (n=270). The Body Mass Index (BMI) and modified questionnaires by Burton (1999) are used as instruments for this study. Analysis showed that 15.9% of the respondents are overweight, 23.7% are in pre-obese level, 27.8% are in obese level one and 3.7% respondents are in obese level two. T-test analysis of independent samples was used to determine the level of knowledge and a healthy lifestyle among male and female students. The results showed that there is no significant difference between male and female students in the levels of healthy lifestyle practices with p = 0.089 (p> 0.05); the level of a healthy lifestyle practices among males (M = 71.57, SD = 8:42) have almost the same mean with females (M = 70.05, SD = 6:00). Furthermore, the findings indicate that the scores on the levels of knowledge on healthy lifestyle for male students is (M = 79.09, SD = 7:38), while the mean score for female students is (M = 76.95, SD = 8:59) with p = 0.028 (p <0.05). On comparing the means of the scores on the levels of knowledge on healthy lifestyle, the male students scored higher than the female students. It turns out there is a difference between male and female students in terms of the level of knowledge on healthy lifestyle. The study found that the respondents have a good knowledge on healthy lifestyle, but lack practice in daily life. This is an unpleasant indication because Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris students are facing the risk of cardiovascular-related diseases caused by obesity and a sedentary lifestyle.
Study site: Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Perak, Malaysia