Introduction: Changes in dietary habits are known to be associated with changes in health outcomes. This study determined food choices among Malaysian adults using secondary data of the Malaysian Adults Nutrition Survey (MANS) in 2003 and MANS in 2014. Methods: A total of 6,742 and 3,000 adults aged 18 to 59 years participated in MANS 2003 and MANS 2014, respectively. Both studies used a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to assess habitual food in take. Results: Overall, the prevalence of adults consuming rice twice daily were 97.3% and 86.9% in 2003 and 2014, respectively. While the percentage of urban dwellers who consumed rice daily differed significantly between 2003 (96.7%) and 2014 (86.9%), the percentage remained quite similar among rural adults in 2003 (97.8%) and 2014 (96.3%). Other top ten food items consumed daily were sugar (2003, 58.5% vs 2014, 55.9%), marine fish (40.8% vs 29.4%), green leafy vegetables (39.9% vs 43.2%) and sweetened condensed milk (35.2% vs 29.3%). In both surveys, a higher percentage of men consumed rice, sugar and sweetened condensed milk on a daily basis compared to women, a higher proportion of whom daily consumed green leafy vegetables and marine fish. Majority of the adults reported drinking plain water daily. Other beverages taken daily were tea, coffee and chocolate-malt drinks. Conclusion: Rice, sugar and sweetened condensed milk were among the top food items consumed daily in 2003 and 2014. Educational efforts to improve dietary intake of Malaysian adults is recommended.

Background: Visual impairment and blindness are common problems in older adult of Malaysian and the number of people affected is likely to increase as the population age increased. Visual impairment can be described as any chronic visual deficit that impairs everyday functioning. This study aims to determine the association of visual impairment with diabetes mellitus among adults in Malaysia. Method: Data was analyzed on adults aged ≥ 50 years from the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2015, a cross-sectional, nationwide population-based survey covering information on socio-demographic profile, diabetes mellitus and visual domain from the locally validated Washington Group Short Questionnaire. Results: The overall prevalence of diabetes patients had difficulty in seeing was 26.1% (95% CI: 24.2, 28.0). Elderly Malaysians was noted to have higher proportion of visual impairment 27.8% (95% CI: 25.6-30.1) compared to other age group. From that, we selected the respondents aged 50 and above and the result showed 32.5% (95% CI: 30.76, 34.37) of them having visual impairment. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine factors associated with visual impairment and showed it was significantly associated with diabetes mellitus [aOR = 1.8, 95%- CI: 1.7-1.9], more female visually impaired [aOR = 1.1, 95%-CI: 1.0- 1.2] and most among elderly [aOR = 5.3, 95% CI: 4.4-6.4], other bumiputra [aOR = 1.9, 95%-CI: 1.6-2.1], widow/widower/divorcee [aOR = 1.4, 95%-CI: 1.1-1.7] and rural [aOR = 1.0,95%-CI: 1.0-1.1]. Conclusion: National screening and educational programs were needed to reduce visual impairment and risk of blindness among diabetes patient. The findings may help increase the awareness of visual impairment by general public and policy makers as well.