Nurfazlinda Md Shah
Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Title: The Impact of Stress on Eating Behavior among Malaysian Adolescents: A prospective cohort study on Perceived Stress and ‘True Stress’ based on using Saliva Cortisol as a Stress Biomarker
Biography
Biography: Nurfazlinda Md Shah
Abstract
The concurrent increasing prevalence of reported stress and obesity among adolescents worldwide has been attributed to urbanization and changes in lifestyle. This study aims to explore the impact of stress on eating behavior among adolescents. A cohort study was conducted among 797 multi-ethnic Malaysian adolescents. Data were collected at two time points six month apart; during the 2 weeks prior to final-year national school examination and during normal school days. Stress level was assessed subjectively using a validated questionnaire and objectively by using saliva cortisol level of a subsample of 261 participants. Eating behaviours were explored using a validated self-reported questionnaire. Linear regression and Pearson’s correlation analyses were applied. No significant difference of perceived stress level was observed between near exam period and normal school days. However, saliva cortisol level was significantly higher during the near exam period. Adolescents with high perceived stress had significantly higher scores for emotional eating pattern and food responsiveness. Strongest significant positive correlation was observed during the near exam period between perceived stress and emotional overeating (r0=0.30); stronger among female (r0=0.31), urban (r0=0.32), underweight (r0=0.34) and adolescents with moderately perceived stress (r0=0.24). No significant correlation was found between perceived stress and saliva cortisol or between saliva cortisol and eating behaviour. Stress and obesity are significant problems among adolescents and school examinations are an important stressor needs to be addressed. Perceived stress level affects the emotional eating and external eating patterns of adolescents and therefore obesity prevention programmes should be designed taking these issues into account.