THE DEVELOPMENT OF MALAYSIAN FOOD VARIETY INDICATOR (MFVI) AMONG LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS IN MALAYSIA: A PILOT STUDY

Abstract

Malaysia is a country of diverse races and religions, and one of the countries in Southeast Asia that has a vibrant economy, political stability and constant growth of industrial development. Strong economic growth has also changed the lifestyle of its people as well as in terms of food intake, especially in urban areas. Currently, the consumption of foods that are high in calories and protein are common among Malaysians (Zainal Badari et al., 2012). This has increased the risk of chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes mellitus, stroke and hypertension (Ministry of Health, 2010). Lifestyle changes in adults lead to unhealthy eating habits, socioeconomic pressure, and smoking and decreased physical activity, which lead to an increase in chronic disease risk factors (Lam & Khor, 1997).