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Assessment of dietary intakes, nutritional status, physical activity and cognitive performances
among fishermen’s children in Terengganu

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1 Atiah Munirah Meli, Asma’ Ali*, Hayati Mohd Yusof

1 Department of Food Science, Faculty of Fisheries and Food Science, Universiti Malaysia
Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

*Corresponding author: asma.ali@umt.edu.my

Abstract:
This study aims to assess the risk of dietary intakes, nutritional status, physical activity and associated
factors toward cognitive performances among fishermen’s children aged 7 to 11 years old in
Terengganu. The diet adequacy was determined using a 24-hour food recall over two days, one on a
weekday and the other on a weekend. Furthermore, the children's anthropometric measurements were
analysed by calculating their BMI-for-age and height-for-age, as well as a median urinary iodine test to
detect the iodine content in urine. Physical activity is measure using Physical Activity Questionnaire
for Children (PAQ-C) that categorized into three classification which is low, moderate and high.
Sociodemographic profile questionnaire also be use. Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices were used
to assess their cognitive abilities, with the standard score of the exam indicating whether they were
intellectually superior, definitely above average, average, below average, or intellectually impaired.
Result shown that the fishermen’s children have adequate intake of calorie/energy, protein, fat,
carbohydrates, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin A, zinc, iron and sodium but poor
intake of dietary fibre, thiamine, folate, vitamin C, vitamin E, calcium and potassium. Most of the
children have normal height-for-age and BMI-for-age. However, more than a half of them have iodine
deficiency. There are 75.5% of the targeted fishermen’s children have moderate physical activity level
in term of physical activity. Only height-for-age, primary school (dummy variable for ‘mother’s
education level’) and sodium shows significant association toward cognitive performance. The most
risk factor of the poor cognitive among fishermen’s children in Terengganu is height-for-age and
sodium intake. It is suggested that more myriad variable outside dietary adequacy, nutritional status,
physical activity, socio-demographic such as social environment or stress events are suggested in order
to know more about risk factor of the poor cognitive.

Keywords: Dietary intakes, Nutritional status, Physical activity, Cognitive performances, Fishermen’s
children