ORCID Profile
0000-0002-5086-219X
Current Organisation
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
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Publisher: Medknow
Date: 29-01-2018
Abstract: Gross motor development is an essential factor for specific skills required in different sports. This study aimed at assessing the level of gross motor development of school children in the district of Kuala Pilah. The objectives of this study are to identify the level of locomotor and object control amongst the children in the area, identifying the different developments of gross motor skills amongst children based on their gender and identifying the different developments of gross motor skills amongst the children based on the location of the schools. This study is non-trivial as the development of gross motor control in children are significant for their involvement in sports, games and recreational activities. Failure to control motor skills may have an impact on the children in the context of their daily interactions, self-confidence, and learning ability. This study involves 160 children aged 7 years old pooled from 8 different primary schools. The data collected was analysed based on the TGMD (Test of Gross Motor development) and interpreted via the GMQ (Gross Motor Quotients). The result from the t-test suggests that there is no significant difference between the genders concerning the gross motor development of children in the district of Kuala Pilah. However, if was found that there is a significant differences between children of urban and rural schools based on the measured gross motor development.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 10-2021
DOI: 10.1136/BMJOPEN-2021-049267
Abstract: 24-hour movement behaviours (physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep) during the early years are associated with health and developmental outcomes, prompting the WHO to develop Global guidelines for physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep for children under 5 years of age. Prevalence data on 24-hour movement behaviours is lacking, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). This paper describes the development of the SUNRISE International Study of Movement Behaviours in the Early Years protocol, designed to address this gap. SUNRISE is the first international cross-sectional study that aims to determine the proportion of 3- and 4-year-old children who meet the WHO Global guidelines. The study will assess if proportions differ by gender, urban/rural location and/or socioeconomic status. Executive function, motor skills and adiposity will be assessed and potential correlates of 24-hour movement behaviours examined. Pilot research from 24 countries (14 LMICs) informed the study design and protocol. Data are collected locally by research staff from partnering institutions who are trained throughout the research process. Piloting of all measures to determine protocol acceptability and feasibility was interrupted by COVID-19 but is nearing completion. At the time of publication 41 countries are participating in the SUNRISE study. The SUNRISE protocol has received ethics approved from the University of Wollongong, Australia, and in each country by the applicable ethics committees. Approval is also sought from any relevant government departments or organisations. The results will inform global efforts to prevent childhood obesity and ensure young children reach their health and developmental potential. Findings on the correlates of movement behaviours can guide future interventions to improve the movement behaviours in culturally specific ways. Study findings will be disseminated via publications, conference presentations and may contribute to the development of local guidelines and public health interventions.
Publisher: Kasetsart University and Development Institute
Date: 31-10-2019
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 10-02-2022
DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000002886
Abstract: There is a paucity of global data on sedentary behavior during early childhood. The purpose of this study was to examine how device-measured sedentary behavior in young children differed across geographically, economically, and sociodemographically erse populations, in an international s le. This multinational, cross-sectional study included data from 1071 children 3–5 yr old from 19 countries, collected between 2018 and 2020 (pre-COVID). Sedentary behavior was measured for three consecutive days using activPAL accelerometers. Sedentary time, sedentary fragmentation, and seated transport duration were calculated. Linear mixed models were used to examine the differences in sedentary behavior variables between sex, country-level income groups, urban/rural settings, and population density. Children spent 56% (7.4 h) of their waking time sedentary. The longest average bout duration was 81.1 ± 45.4 min, and an average of 61.1 ± 50.1 min·d −1 was spent in seated transport. Children from upper-middle–income and high-income countries spent a greater proportion of the day sedentary, accrued more sedentary bouts, had shorter breaks between sedentary bouts, and spent significantly more time in seated transport, compared with children from low-income and lower-middle–income countries. Sex and urban/rural residential setting were not associated with any outcomes. Higher population density was associated with several higher sedentary behavior measures. These data advance our understanding of young children’s sedentary behavior patterns globally. Country income levels and population density appear to be stronger drivers of the observed differences, than sex or rural/urban residential setting.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2022
DOI: 10.1016/J.JSAMS.2022.10.003
Abstract: To validate parent-reported child habitual total physical activity against accelerometry and three existing step-count thresholds for classifying 3 h/day of total physical activity in pre-schoolers from 13 culturally and geographically erse countries. Cross-sectional validation study. We used data involving 3- and 4-year-olds from 13 middle- and high-income countries who participated in the SUNRISE study. We used Spearman's rank-order correlation, Bland-Altman plots, and Kappa statistics to validate parent-reported child habitual total physical activity against activPAL™-measured total physical activity over 3 days. Additionally, we used Receiver Operating Characteristic Area Under the Curve analysis to validate existing step-count thresholds (Gabel, Vale, and De Craemer) using step-counts derived from activPAL™. Of the 352 pre-schoolers, 49.1 % were girls. There was a very weak but significant positive correlation and slight agreement between parent-reported total physical activity and accelerometer-measured total physical activity (r: 0.140 p = 0.009 Kappa: 0.030). Parents overestimated their child's total physical activity compared to accelerometry (mean bias: 69 min/day standard deviation: 126 95 % limits of agreement: -179, 316). Of the three step-count thresholds tested, the De Craemer threshold of 11,500 steps/day provided excellent classification of meeting the total physical activity guideline as measured by accelerometry (area under the ROC curve: 0.945 95 % confidence interval: 0.928, 0.961 sensitivity: 100.0 % specificity: 88.9 %). Parent reports may have limited validity for assessing pre-schoolers' level of total physical activity. Step-counting is a promising alternative - low-cost global surveillance initiatives could potentially use pedometers for assessing compliance with the physical activity guideline in early childhood.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 20-08-2023
Abstract: Prevention and treatment of childhood obesity is a global concern, and in Malaysia, it is considered a national public health priority. Determinants of childhood obesity are multifactorial and include factors that directly and indirectly influence energy balance-related behaviours, including energy intake and energy expenditure. Interventions to address childhood obesity that have multiple components at different levels have been shown to be the most influential. The ToyBox-study is a childhood obesity intervention aimed at preschool-aged children and their families that had been shown to be effective in several European countries and so was chosen for adaption for the Malaysian setting. Materials were translated and adjusted for the Malaysian context and audience and implemented in kindergartens in Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, teaching transitioned to being online. This brought an opportunity to reach a wider audience and consider the long-term sustainability of the intervention, and thus eToybox was born. eToybox aims to bring support for healthy energy balance behaviours directly to the teachers, into kindergartens and homes, to encourage families to be active and eat healthily, and prevent or reduce obesity. Through online innovation, the Toybox Study Malaysia programme has been expanded to enhance its potential to impact the promotion of healthy lifestyles among preschoolers and their families, highlighting the importance of a holistic approach to preventing and treating childhood obesity in Malaysia.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 27-11-2019
Abstract: As there are few food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) to assess the dietary intake of preschool children, this study examined the validity and reliability of an FFQ for this purpose. A total of 210 preschoolers aged 4 to 6 years participated in the validation study, while a subs le of 66 participants joined the reliability study. The FFQ is modified from the ToyBox-study and South East Asian Nutrition Surveys (SEANUTS), and comprised 108 food items from 13 food groups. A three-day estimated dietary record (3DR) was used as reference and reliability was assessed through a second administration of the FFQ (FFQ2), four weeks after the first administration (FFQ1). For the validation study, Spearman’s correlation coefficients showed moderate to high correlations (p 0.001) between FFQ and 3DR. Cross-classification of quartile analysis showed moderate agreement between the two methods. As for reliability, Spearman’s correlation coefficients showed moderate to high correlations (p 0.001) between FFQ1 and FFQ2. Cronbach’s alpha values (0.708 to 0.824) and intraclass correlation coefficients (0.710 to 0.826) showed good agreement between repeated FFQs. The results suggest that the FFQ has acceptable validity and good reliability. Hence, the FFQ can be used to assess preschool children’s food intake.
Publisher: Horizon Research Publishing Co., Ltd.
Date: 03-2021
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 11-07-2012
DOI: 10.1038/EJCN.2012.84
Abstract: To describe the diet quality of a national s le of Australian women with a recent history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and determine factors associated with adherence to national dietary recommendations. A postpartum lifestyle survey with 1499 Australian women diagnosed with GDM ≤3 years previously. Diet quality was measured using the Australian recommended food score (ARFS) and weighted by demographic and diabetes management characteristics. Multinominal logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association between diet quality and demographic characteristics, health seeking behaviours and diabetes-related risk factors. Mean (±s.d.) ARFS was 30.9±8.1 from a possible maximum score of 74. Subscale component scores demonstrated that the nuts/legumes, grains and fruits were the most poorly scored. Factors associated with being in the highest compared with the lowest ARFS quintile included age (odds ratio (OR) 5-year increase=1.40 95% (confidence interval) CI:1.16-1.68), tertiary education (OR=2.19 95% CI:1.52-3.17), speaking only English (OR=1.92 95% CI:1.19-3.08), being sufficiently physically active (OR=2.11 95% CI:1.46-3.05), returning for postpartum blood glucose testing (OR=1.75 95% CI:1.23-2.50) and receiving risk reduction advice from a health professional (OR=1.80 95% CI:1.24-2.60). Despite an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, women in this study had an overall poor diet quality as measured by the ARFS. Women with GDM should be targeted for interventions aimed at achieving a postpartum diet consistent with the guidelines for chronic disease prevention. Encouraging women to return for follow-up and providing risk reduction advice may be positive initial steps to improve diet quality, but additional strategies need to be identified.
Publisher: Canadian Center of Science and Education
Date: 29-06-2012
DOI: 10.5539/ASS.V8N9P98
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2011
Publisher: Horizon Research Publishing Co., Ltd.
Date: 05-2021
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2010
DOI: 10.1016/J.JSAMS.2008.10.003
Abstract: This is one of the first studies to explore known preventive behaviours for type 2 diabetes (T2DM) among women with recent gestational diabetes (GDM), and the first to do so in a representative population s le. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of health-enhancing physical activity (PA) and explore its association with psychosocial and sociodemographic factors, in postnatal women with recent GDM. Cross-sectional telephone surveys were conducted among Queensland women with a recent history (>or=6 months and <or=3 years since diagnosis) of GDM (N=331), which included measures on PA behaviour, social support and self-efficacy for regular PA. The prevalence of health-enhancing PA among women with recent GDM was 37.2%. In multivariate analysis, both social support (OR=1.06, 95% CI 1.03-1.09) and self-efficacy (OR=1.04, 95% CI 1.004-1.07) were significantly associated with health-enhancing PA. The findings from this study demonstrate the need for postnatal follow-up to increase PA levels in women with recent GDM as this may reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in this at-risk population. Strategies that address social support and self-efficacy for PA may be effective in increasing health-enhancing PA among women with recent GDM.
Publisher: Hindawi Limited
Date: 2012
DOI: 10.1155/2012/892019
Abstract: Optimal strategies to prevent progression towards overt diabetes in women with recent gestational diabetes remain ill defined. We report a pilot study of a convenient, home based exercise program with telephone support, suited to the early post-partum period. Twenty eight women with recent gestational diabetes were enrolled at six weeks post-partum into a 12 week randomised controlled trial of Usual Care ( n = 13 ) versus Supported Care (in idualised exercise program with regular telephone support n = 15 ). Baseline characteristics (Mean ± SD) were: Age 33 ± 4 years Weight 80 ± 20 kg and Body Mass Index (BMI) 30.0 ± 9.7 kg/m 2 . The primary outcome, planned physical activity {Median (Range)}, increased by 60 (0–540) mins/week in the SC group versus 0 (0–580) mins/week in the UC group ( P = 0.234 ). Walking was the predominant physical activity. Body weight, BMI, waist circumference, % body fat, fasting glucose and insulin did not change significantly over time in either group. This intervention designed to increase physical activity in post-partum women with previous gestational diabetes proved feasible. However, no measurable improvement in metabolic or biometric parameters was observed over a three month period.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 28-04-2019
Abstract: Educational modules can be effective in educating and motivating adolescents to participate in physical activity (PA). This paper describes the development and validation of a PA educational module for use in an obesity intervention programme, CEria Respek Gigih Aktif Sihat (CERGAS). The present study was conducted in three phases: Phase I was composed of needs assessments with four focus group discussions to elicit adolescents’ opinions regarding module content and design, Phase II was the development of the PA module, while Phase III was content and face validation. A content validity index (CVI) was used to assess content validity quantitatively, with a CVI of more than 0.79 being considered appropriate. The needs assessments indicated that content of interest to adolescents included: the benefits of exercise exercise techniques ways to increase PA and how to stay motivated. Attractive graphic design was determined as a way to draw the adolescents’ attention. The module covered five topics: “Let’s Be Active” “Exercise and Fitness” “Staying Safe during Exercise and Physical Activity” “Planning for Success” and “How to Overcome Sedentariness and Get Moving”. The module was found to have good content validity (mean CVI = 0.85). Expert members made suggestions to improve the module. These suggestions were then accepted, and the module was modified accordingly. We concluded that the module has good content validity and can be used to improve PA knowledge amongst CERGAS participants.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 17-05-2021
DOI: 10.1186/S12889-021-10852-3
Abstract: The restrictions associated with the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in changes to young children’s daily routines and habits. The impact on their participation in movement behaviours (physical activity, sedentary screen time and sleep) is unknown. This international longitudinal study compared young children’s movement behaviours before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents of children aged 3–5 years, from 14 countries (8 low- and middle-income countries, LMICs) completed surveys to assess changes in movement behaviours and how these changes were associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Surveys were completed in the 12 months up to March 2020 and again between May and June 2020 (at the height of restrictions). Physical activity (PA), sedentary screen time (SST) and sleep were assessed via parent survey. At Time 2, COVID-19 factors including level of restriction, environmental conditions, and parental stress were measured. Compliance with the World Health Organizations (WHO) Global guidelines for PA (180 min/day [≥60 min moderate- vigorous PA]), SST (≤1 h/day) and sleep (10-13 h/day) for children under 5 years of age, was determined. Nine hundred- forty-eight parents completed the survey at both time points. Children from LMICs were more likely to meet the PA (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AdjOR] = 2.0, 95%Confidence Interval [CI] 1.0,3.8) and SST (AdjOR = 2.2, 95%CI 1.2,3.9) guidelines than their high-income country (HIC) counterparts. Children who could go outside during COVID-19 were more likely to meet all WHO Global guidelines (AdjOR = 3.3, 95%CI 1.1,9.8) than those who were not. Children of parents with higher compared to lower stress were less likely to meet all three guidelines (AdjOR = 0.5, 95%CI 0.3,0.9). PA and SST levels of children from LMICs have been less impacted by COVID-19 than in HICs. Ensuring children can access an outdoor space, and supporting parents’ mental health are important prerequisites for enabling pre-schoolers to practice healthy movement behaviours and meet the Global guidelines.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2023
Publisher: Canadian Center of Science and Education
Date: 21-12-2014
Publisher: Canadian Center of Science and Education
Date: 22-12-2014
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 10-08-2018
DOI: 10.1111/NBU.12340
Publisher: Horizon Research Publishing Co., Ltd.
Date: 12-2020
No related grants have been discovered for Denise Koh.