Suriani Hassan

Perception on obesity among university students: A case study using factor analysis

The purpose of this study was to examine the university students’ perceptions on obesity and to compare the difference in mean scores factor based on demographic factors. Data was collected randomly using questionnaires. There were 321 university students participated in this study. Descriptive statistics, factor analysis, normality test, independent t test, one-way ANOVA and non-parametric tests were used in this study. Factor analysis results managed to retrieve three new factors namely impact of the health, impact of the physical appearance and personal factors. The study found that Science students have higher awareness and perceptions than Art students on Factor 1, impact of the health towards overweight problems and obesity. The findings of the study showed students, whose family background has obesity problem have higher awareness and perceptions than students’ whose family background has no obesity problem on Factor 1, impact of the health towards overweight problems and obesity. The study also fo...

Health risk assessment of heavy metals via consumption of bivalves species in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Bivalve organisms are more vulnerable to a variety of aquatic pollution. It has high adaptability to various levels of contaminations. It can accumulate pollutants such as heavy metal in its tissues and cause major concern on potential risk of heavy metal especially to the consumers. The objectives of this study were to determine heavy metal (Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd) concentrations in five most consumed and popular bivalve species among Kota Kinabalu community and to compare with the Food Regulation Malaysia (1985) and Food and Agriculture Organization. Five most consumed bivalves species are Meretrix meretrix (Kepah), Anadara granosa (Kerang), Tridacna squamosa (Kima), Polymesoda erosa (Lokan) and Crassostrea gigas (Tiram). Health risk associated with these heavy metals in the five bivalves species were estimated based on target quotients (THQs). The results indicated that the metal concentrations in the bivalves ranged from 3.21 to 36.22 mg/kg for Cu, 28.62–1771.12 mg/kg for Zn, 0.20–3.43 mg/kg for Pb and 0.44–7.27 mg/kg for Cd. These concentrations were significantly correlated with species and the size of bivalves. Some of the heavy metal concentrations exceeded the permissible level by Food Regulation Malaysia (1985) and Food and Agriculture Organization. However, based on the THQs value for adults, only metal concentrations in Crassostrea gigas (Tiram) exceeded, which indicates potential health risks associated with the consumption of this species.