Healthy eating intention amongst Millennials and Generation Z

The increasing prevalence of obesity and inadequate nutrition among young individuals in Malaysia can be attributed to their eating habit and a general lack of food consciousness in contemporary society. In 2019, half of the adult population in Malaysia was classified as overweight or obese. The quantity increased by 3.4%to reach 53.5% in 2023. Be known to all, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension are linked to an insufficient diet and the only way to obtain excellent health and vitality is through appropriate nutrition and regular physical exercise. However, a recent local report in May 2024 revealed that proper nutrition intake among Malaysian adults was noticeably low. Thus, observing the trend of Malaysians' intention towards healthy eating is crucial especially among younger generations in order to generate a healthy society. A total of 547participants were contacted via a WhatsApp group, where they were given a hyperlink to access the online questionnaire. The primary objective of the study is to assess if there is a significant difference between the two samples in younger generations, namely the Millennials and Generation Z, in terms of healthy eating intention. Thrillingly, the results indicate substantial difference in healthy eating intention scores between the Millennials and Generation Z with a slightly higher intention seen among the Millennials. With the benefit of this hindsight, the policy makers might employ the findings to build strategies for educating the public about proper nutrition and encouraging the adoption of healthy eating behaviour.