Knowledge, attitudes, practices, and dietary patterns related to sugar-sweetened beverage intake and their association with gender and BMI among young adults in Politeknik Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah

The high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) is acknowledged as a significant factor in the increasing rates of obesity and non-communicable diseases, especially in young adults. This research sought to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) concerning SSB consumption, identify dietary trends in sugar intake, and analyse the relationship between KAP, gender, and body mass index (BMI) among young adults at Politeknik Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah (PSA). A cross-sectional study involved 121 participants utilizing a validated KAP questionnaire along with a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to evaluate sugar consumption. BMI was classified according to Asian cut-off standards. Descriptive statistics, non-parametric tests, and correlation analyses were conducted with SPSS Version 29. The findings indicated elevated levels of knowledge (median = 10.0, IQR = 3.0), attitude (median = 5.0, IQR = 0.0), and practice (median = 4.0, IQR = 3.0). Most respondents 92.6% exhibited strong knowledge, whereas 80.2% demonstrated a positive attitude and good practices. Nevertheless, the intake of SSBs and foods high in sugar remained moderate, with commonly consumed items like flavoured beverages, isotonic drinks, and traditional Malaysian desserts. No significant statistical relationships were identified between KAP domains and gender or BMI (p > 0.05), although trends indicated that male students exhibited marginally greater knowledge while female students engaged in healthier behaviours. Even with favourable KAP scores, 58.7% of participants were either overweight or obese, highlighting a gap between knowledge and real dietary habits. These results emphasize the necessity for holistic health promotion approaches that extend beyond education to incorporate behavioural, environmental, and institutional measures designed for the student demographic. Additional qualitative and longitudinal studies are suggested to investigate the fundamental factors affecting SSB consumption and to create sustainable solutions.