Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Intake and Attitudes on Sugar Taxation: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Students and Staff of a Malaysian University/College

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Intake and Attitudes on Sugar Taxation: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Students and Staff of a Malaysian University/College | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Intake and Attitudes on Sugar Taxation: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Students and Staff of a Malaysian University/College Yee-How Say, Jia Ying Yeoh, Kelvin Gunawan, Wen Xuan Chia, Kai Hui Lee, and 4 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-6980853/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 02 Jan, 2026 Read the published version in Discover Public Health → Version 1 posted 14 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background Excessive intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) is linked to obesity, diabetes, and non-communicable diseases. Despite growing awareness, consumption remains high in Malaysia. Public perception and behavioural responses to sugar taxation remain underexplored, particularly in educational settings. Objective This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of SSB consumption and attitudes toward sugar taxation among university students and staff of Sunway University/Sunway College, Malaysia. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 415 participants (median age: 21 ± 5 years; 68% females) using validated questionnaires assessing SSB-related knowledge, attitudes, practices, and sugar tax attitudes. Results Most participants had high knowledge (97.1%) and positive attitudes (97.8%) toward SSBs, but only 47.5% practiced healthy consumption. Knowledge was positively correlated with SSB attitude ( r = 0.265, p < 0.001) and sugar tax attitude ( r = 0.110, p = 0.025), but negatively with practice ( r = –0.191, p < 0.001). Positive sugar tax attitude was associated with male sex ( p = 0.024) and non-Chinese ethnicity ( p = 0.049). Healthier practices were associated with not eating on campus ( p = 0.004) and not vaping ( p = 0.031). Participants preferred tax revenue to subsidize healthy foods (51.6%), with significant association with age ≥20 yr ( p = 0.003) and tertiary education attainment ( p = 0.037). Conclusion Although participants demonstrated high knowledge and favourable attitudes toward SSB reduction and sugar taxation, healthy consumption practices were suboptimal. The findings highlight the need for integrated strategies that not only educate but also create supportive food environments and policy structures. Sugar-sweetened beverages Knowledge attitudes and practices (KAP) Sugar taxation University students Malaysia 1 Introduction The global escalation of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), particularly obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease, has been strongly linked to unhealthy dietary patterns, including excessive intake of added sugars [ 1 ]. Among the most significant contributors to this excess are sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), which include carbonated soft drinks, flavoured juices, energy drinks, sweetened milk, and sweetened teas or coffees [ 1 ]. These beverages provide high amounts of energy but minimal to no nutritional value, making them one of the primary dietary drivers of weight gain, metabolic syndrome, and other chronic illnesses [ 1 , 2 ]. Furthermore, frequent consumption of SSBs is associated with increased total daily caloric intake, displacement of healthier beverages, such as water and milk, and heightened risk of dental caries in both children and adults [ 3 , 4 ]. In Southeast Asia, the nutrition transition—characterized by increasing consumption of processed foods and beverages—has accelerated the public health impact of SSBs, particularly among adolescents and young adults [ 5 ]. According to the latest Malaysia National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2024, two-thirds of adolescents and half of adults consume free sugars amounting to more than 37.5g or 7.5 teaspoons a day, where half of free sugars came from SSBs [ 6 ]. In the same survey, it was found that Malaysian adults consumed consume 7.3 servings of prepared SSB a week, 1.6 times higher than the 4.6 weekly servings of ready-to-drink SSB [ 6 ]. While awareness of the harmful health effects of sugar is growing, consumption remains high due to affordability, availability, aggressive marketing, and cultural preferences [ 7 , 8 ]. University students, in particular, are a high-risk group due to their increased dietary independence, exposure to convenience foods, and tendency to consume sugary drinks for stress relief, social engagement, or energy [ 9 ]. Recognizing the health and economic burden of high sugar intake, the Malaysian government introduced a sugar tax in July 2019 as a fiscal policy tool aimed at discouraging consumption and encouraging reformulation of sugary drinks [ 10 , 11 ]. The excise tax, which applies to ready-to-drink beverages containing more than 5g of sugar per 100 ml [ 11 ], seeks to align Malaysia with international public health best practices [ 12 ]. Similar taxes implemented in countries like Mexico, the United Kingdom, and South Africa have shown modest but promising reductions in SSB consumption and product reformulation by manufacturers [ 13 , 14 ]. Recently, in the Malaysian Budget 2025, the SSB excise duty was increased by MYR 0.40 to MYR 0.90 per litre [ 15 ]. This tax, however, only applies to ready-to-drink products, not SSB prepared for order at eateries, which, as shown by NHMS 2024, is more commonly consumed by adults than ready-to-drink SSB. However, the success of such policies depends significantly on public support and understanding. Previous studies have demonstrated that knowledge of health risks, positive attitudes toward healthy behaviour, and support for taxation are interrelated and may influence consumer choices and political will [ 16 , 17 ]. Previous studies in Malaysia examining the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) among youths [ 18 – 23 ] have consistently demonstrated suboptimal knowledge and unhealthy consumption patterns, despite a moderate level of awareness regarding the health risks associated with excessive sugar intake. High consumption of SSBs remains prevalent, particularly among adolescents and university students, and has been positively associated with overweight/obesity assessed by elevated body mass index (BMI) and adiposity. Although several validated tools have been developed to assess SSB-related KAP, findings repeatedly reveal a disconnect between knowledge and actual behaviour, suggesting that awareness alone is insufficient to drive meaningful change in consumption habits. While some global studies have explored public attitudes toward sugar taxes [ 24 , 25 ], there remains a paucity of empirical data in Malaysia examining how young adults’ KAP of SSBs influences their perceptions and acceptance of sugar taxation. Understanding this relationship is crucial, as young adults not only represent a key demographic with high SSB consumption but also serve as future drivers of public opinion and policy compliance. Without such insights, current interventions may fail to resonate with their target audience, limiting their long-term impact. This gap underscores the need for comprehensive research that links SSB-related KAP with perceptions of sugar tax policies, to inform more effective health promotion strategies and policy design in the Malaysian context. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the KAP of SSB intake, as well as attitudes toward SSB/sugar taxation, among students and staff of Sunway University and Sunway College, Malaysia. Specifically, the study aimed to: 1. Assess the levels of SSB-related KAP; 2. Examine the interrelationships among these KAP components and specifically attitudes toward sugar taxation; and 3. Explore demographic and lifestyle factors associated with these domains. By elucidating these patterns, this study contributes to the growing body of evidence needed to inform multisectoral public health strategies that promote healthier beverage choices and reinforce the implementation of sugar-related fiscal policies in Malaysia. 2 Methodology 2.1 Study design This study was a cross-sectional study conducted to determine the KAP of SSB intake and SSB/sugar tax attitudes among students and staff of Sunway University and Sunway College, Malaysia. The study was conducted from April to June 2024 after obtaining approval from the Sunway University Research Ethics Committee (SUREC) (Approval number: SUREC 2024/029). The study was conducted in accordance with the ethical guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki. All participants provided their written informed consent. This study has been registered at https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06473038 with the registration date of June 25, 2024. 2.2 Participants, procedures, and sample size calculation The inclusion criteria for the participants were: 1. Students and staff of Sunway University and Sunway College aged 18 years and above; 2. Able to provide informed consent (written – in Google Forms) to participate; 3. Understands English, while the exclusion criterion was individuals with acute illness, psychological or psychiatric conditions, which may affect the ability to answer the survey questions objectively. Participants were recruited by convenience sampling, via a booth set up at a campus location with high foot traffic, online publicity materials, and word-of-mouth. The QR code for the Google Form questionnaire (in English) was provided in the publicity materials. The questionnaire included the participant information sheet, consent form, socio-demographic information, and questions related to KAP of SSB intake and SSB/sugar tax attitudes. All participants provided their written informed consent in the online form. Participants took 10–15 minutes to complete all the questionnaires, and upon successful completion, they were compensated with a voucher worth MYR 10. Using Raosoft's sample size online calculator ( http://www.raosoft.com/samplesize.html ), a minimum sample size of 377 is needed in order to achieve a 5% margin of error, 95% confidence level, a Sunway University and Sunway College population size of around 20,000, and a 50% response distribution. 2.3 Questionnaire The Google Forms questionnaire consisted of: 1. Socio-demographic and lifestyle factors – questions such as age, sex, ethnicity, highest education level, smoking, vaping, and alcohol-drinking practices, and medical history of diabetes; 2. Practice and frequency of eating meals on campus and general perception of the sweetness levels of beverages sold on campus; 3. KAP of SSBs, adopted from [ 19 ], and SSB/sugar tax attitudes, adopted from [ 24 ]. The full protocol and questionnaire are described in our protocol paper [ 26 ]. The questionnaire on KAP of SSBs comprised a total of 31 dichotomous items, including 18 questions on knowledge, 6 on attitudes, and 7 on practices. In brief, the items in the knowledge domain assessed the facts related to the nutrition of SSBs, and the effects of frequent consumption of SSBs in the development of diseases; the attitude domain covers the aspect of identifying awareness on consuming SSBs on a daily basis as well as healthy behaviours in the selection of SSBs; the practice domain assessed behaviours or actions that have been implemented and practiced whenever selecting and preparing beverages daily. Each item required a binary response (yes/no or agree/disagree), with correct responses scored as one point and incorrect responses scored as zero. The maximum score for each KAP domain corresponded to the number of items in that domain, with higher scores indicating better knowledge, more favourable attitudes, or healthier practices. Participants were categorized into two levels within each domain based on their total score. For knowledge, scores of 9 to 18 were classified as “high knowledge,” while scores of 0 to 8 were classified as “low knowledge.” Attitude scores were categorized as “positive attitude” (3–6) and “negative attitude” (0–2). For practices, scores of 4 to 7 indicated “good practice,” whereas scores of 0 to 3 indicated “poor practice.” [ 19 ]. For sugar/SSB tax attitudes, three questions were asked: 1. “What did you do when the SSBs tax was introduced?” with possible answers: “Replace it with non-taxable drinks (such as fresh fruit juices, water, or unflavoured milk)”, “Reduce consumption of SSBs (such as soft drinks and energy drinks)”, and “There is no change at all”. One point was awarded for the correct answer, “Replace it with non-taxable drinks (such as fresh fruit juices, water, or unflavoured milk),” and zero points were given for the remaining answers; 2. “Indicate your agreement that you are in favour of the Malaysian SSBs tax” with possible answers: “Strongly disagree, disagree, neutral, agree, strongly agree”. Two points were awarded for “strongly agree and agree”, one point for “neutral”, and zero points for “strongly disagree and disagree”; 3. “From the options provided below, what would you most prefer the money generated from the sugar tax be used for?” with possible answers: “Fundamental obesity interventions”, “Revenue for the government”, “Subsidizing healthy foods”, and “Researching cures for diseases exacerbated by excess sugar consumption”[ 24 ]. The sum of scores (from questions 1 and 2) of 0–2 was considered as having “negative attitudes”, while scores of 3–4 were considered as having “positive attitudes” (3–4)[ 24 ]. All questions were set as compulsory and full completion is required before clicking the “submit” button. 2.4 Statistical analysis Descriptive statistics were used to summarize participant characteristics. The conformity of the continuous variables to normal distribution was determined by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, where p > 0.05 indicates normally-distributed data. As the continuous variables were all not normally-distributed, they were expressed as medians with interquartile ranges (IQRs), while categorical variables were presented as frequencies and percentages. Pearson’s chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test (for small cell counts) was used to determine significant associations or differences within the categorical data. Spearman’s rank correlation test was used to examine associations among knowledge, attitudes, practices, and sugar tax attitudes. Binary logistic regression was performed to derive the Odds Ratio (OR), 95% Confidence Interval (CI), and p -value for significant results generated from Pearson’s chi-square test. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. 3 Results 3.1 Participant Characteristics A total of 415 participants were recruited in this study with the median age of 21 ± 5 years. The majority of participants were females (68.0%), Malaysian citizens (96.1%), and Chinese (72.3%), had attained tertiary education (81.7%) at either the pre-university/foundation/diploma level (35.9%), undergraduate level (29.6%), or postgraduate level (16.1%) (Table 1 ). A very small proportion of participants reported a history of diabetes (3.6%), and the prevalence of current tobacco smoking (2.7%), vaping (5.3%), and daily alcohol use (0.5%) was also low (Table 1 ). More than half of the participants (57.8%) reported never consuming alcohol, while 40.0% reported drinking one to three times per month (Table 1 ). A large majority of participants (88.9%) reported eating on campus, with 68.8% consuming five or more meals per week at campus food outlets (Table 1 ). When asked about the sweetness of beverages sold on campus, 14.0% believed they were too sweet, 38.3% felt the sweetness was just right, and 33.5% were unsure (Table 1 ). Table 1 Baseline demographic and lifestyle characteristics of the participants Variables N = 415 Age (Median ± IQR) 21 ± 5 Sex Male 133 (32.0) Female 282 (68.0) Age Group 25 years old 99 (23.9) Malaysian Yes 399 (96.1) No 16 (3.9) Ethnicity Malay/Bumiputra Sabah/Sarawak 40 (9.6) Chinese 300 (72.3) Indian 59 (14.2) Non-Malaysian Asians/Africans/Europeans 16 (3.9) Highest Education Level Secondary 76 (18.3) Tertiary – Pre-university/ foundation/diploma 149 (35.9) Tertiary – Undergraduate 123 (29.6) Tertiary - Postgraduate 67 (16.1) Diabetes History No 400 (96.4) Yes 8 (1.9) Don’t know 7 (1.7) Current Tobacco Smoking No/Never 404 (97.3) Yes 11 (2.7) Current Vaping No/Never 393 (94.7) Yes 22 (5.3) Current Alcohol Drinking Never 240 (57.8) 1–3 times/month 166 (40.0) 1–6 times/month 7 (1.7) Daily 2 (0.5) Eat at Campus Yes 369 (88.9) No 46 (11.1) Total Meals at Campus Per Week < 5 meals/week 171 (41.2) ≥ 5 meals/week 244 (68.8) Do you think the beverages sold on campus are generally too sweet? No 59 (14.2) Just right 159 (38.3) Yes 58 (14.0) Don’t know 139 (33.5) 3.2 Correlations Between SSB Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and Tax Attitudes A significant positive correlation was found between knowledge and attitude scores ( r = 0.265, p < 0.001) (Table 2 ), indicating that participants with greater knowledge about SSBs were more likely to hold favourable attitudes toward reducing consumption. Knowledge also showed a statistically significant, albeit weaker, positive correlation with SSB tax attitude scores ( r = 0.110, p = 0.025) (Table 2 ), suggesting that higher knowledge was associated with greater support for taxation of SSBs. However, a significant negative correlation was observed between knowledge and practice scores ( r = − 0.191, p < 0.001) (Table 2 ), indicating that increased knowledge did not necessarily translate to healthier beverage consumption behaviours. Practice scores were positively correlated with attitudes toward SSB taxation (r = 0.176, p < 0.001) (Table 2 ), suggesting that individuals with favourable tax attitudes also tended to report better beverage consumption practices. The correlation between SSB attitudes and tax attitudes was not statistically significant ( r = 0.075, p = 0.125) (Table 2 ). Table 2 Correlations of SSB Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, and Tax Attitude SSB Knowledge Score SSB Practice Score SSB Attitude Score SSB Tax Attitude SSB Knowledge Score r 1.000 -0.191 0.265 0.110 p . < 0.001** < 0.001** 0.025* SSB Practice Score r -0.191 1.000 -0.082 0.176 p < 0.001** . 0.094 < 0.001** SSB Attitude Score r 0.265 -0.082 1.000 0.075 p < 0.001** 0.094 . 0.125 SSB Tax Attitude r 0.110 0.176 0.075 1.000 p 0.025* < 0.001** 0.125 . r and p -values by Spearman’s rank correlation test; p significant at *<0.05, **<0.01 3.3 Associations Between SSB Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and Sociodemographic or Lifestyle Factors Overall, the majority of respondents demonstrated high knowledge (97.1%) and positive attitudes (97.8%) regarding SSB consumption, though fewer reported good practices (47.5%) or positive attitudes toward sugar taxation (51.3%) (Table 3 ). Sex was found to be significantly associated with SSB tax attitudes ( p = 0.024) (Table 3 ), where a higher proportion of males expressed support for taxation policies compared to females [OR (95% CI); p for males = 1.616 (1.064, 2.453); 0.024]. Ethnicity was also significantly associated with tax attitudes ( p = 0.049) (Table 3 ), with non-Chinese participants more likely to report positive views toward sugar taxation than Chinese participants [OR (95% CI); p for non-Chinese = 1.547 (1.001, 2.390); 0.050]. A significant association was observed between alcohol consumption and knowledge scores ( p = 0.034) (Table 3 ), where non-drinkers were more likely to have high knowledge scores [OR (95% CI); p for non-drinkers = 4.283 (1.142, 16.059); 0.031]. Vaping status was significantly associated with SSB practice scores ( p = 0.031) (Table 3 ), indicating that non-vapers were more likely to report favourable consumption behaviours [OR (95% CI); p for non-vapers = 2.933 (1.061, 8.106); 0.038]. Additionally, not eating on campus was significantly associated with better practice scores ( p = 0.004) (Table 3 ), with those not consuming meals on campus more frequently reporting healthier SSB practices [OR (95% CI); p for non-campus eaters = 2.532 (1.334, 4.806); 0.004]. No statistically significant associations were found between SSB KAP or tax attitudes and other demographic factors such as age group, nationality, education level, diabetes status, tobacco smoking, total meals consumed on campus per week, or perception of sweetness of campus beverages (Table 3 ). Table 3 Association of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) on SSB intake and tax attitude with demographics and lifestyle factors Variables SSB Knowledge Category SSB Attitude Category SSB Practice Category SSB Tax Attitude Category Low ( n = 12) High ( n = 403) Negative ( n = 9) Positive ( n = 406) Poor ( n = 228) Good ( n = 197) Negative ( n = 202) Positive ( n = 213) Sex Male ( n = 133) 6 (4.5) 127 (95.5) 4 (3.0) 129 (97.0) 77 (57.9) 56 (42.1) 54 (40.6) 79 (59.4) Female ( n = 282) 6 (2.1) 276 (97.9) 5 (1.8) 277 (98.2) 151 (53.5) 131 (46.5) 148 (52.5) 134 (47.5) p 0.176 0.476 0.406 0.024* Age Group < 20 year ( n = 91) 3 (3.3) 88 (96.7) 1 (1.1) 90 (98.9) 56 (61.5) 35 (38.5) 40 (44.0) 51 (56.0) ≥ 20 year ( n = 324) 9 (2.8) 315 (97.2) 8 (2.5) 316 (97.5) 172 (53.1) 152 (46.9) 162 (50.0) 162 (50.0) p 0.731 0.691 0.19 0.343 Malaysian Yes ( n = 399) 12 (3.0) 387 (97.0) 9 (100) 390 (97.7) 220 (55.1) 179 (44.9) 196 (49.1) 203 (50.9) No ( n = 16) 0 16 (4.0) 0 16 (3.9) 8 (50.0) 8 (50.0) 6 (37.5) 10 (62.5) p 1 1 0.685 0.362 Ethnicity Chinese ( n = 300) 9 (3.0) 291 (97.0) 7 (2.3) 293 (97.7) 168 (56.0) 132 (44.0) 155 (51.7) 145 (48.3) Non-Chinese ( n = 115) 3 (2.6) 112 (97.4) 2 (1.7) 113 (98.3) 60 (52.2) 55 (47.8) 47 (40.9) 68 (59.1) p 1 1 0.483 0.049* Highest Education Level Secondary ( n = 76) 0 76 (18.9) 1 (11.1) 75 (18.4) 40 (17.5) 36 (19.3) 36 (17.8) 40 (18.8) Tertiary ( n = 339) 12 (100) 327 (81.1) 8 (88.9) 331 (81.5) 188 (82.5) 151 (80.7) 166 (82.2) 173 (81.2) p 0.135 1 0.703 0.899 Diabetes History No ( n = 400) 11 (2.8) 389 (97.2) 8 (2.0) 392 (98.0) 221 (55.3) 179 (44.7) 196 (49.0) 204 (51.0) Yes/Don't know ( n = 15) 1 (6.7) 14 (93.3) 1 (6.7) 14 (93.3) 7 (46.7) 8 (53.3) 6 (40.0) 9 (60.0) p 0.361 0.284 0.601 0.602 Current Tobacco Smoking No/Never ( n = 404) 12 (3.0) 392 (97.0) 9 (2.2) 395 (97.8) 220 (54.5) 184 (45.5) 196 (948.5) 208 (51.5) Yes ( n = 11) 0 11 (100) 0 11 (100) 8 (72.7) 3 (27.3) 6 (54.5) 5 (45.5) p 1 1 0.229 0.693 Current Vaping No/Never ( n = 393) 12 (3.1) 381 (96.9) 9 (2.3) 384 (97.7) 211 (53.7) 182 (46.3) 192 (48.9) 201 (51.1) Yes ( n = 22) 0 22 (100) 0 22 (100) 17 (77.3) 5 (22.7) 10 (45.5) 12 (54.5) p 1 1 0.031* 0.756 Current Alcohol Drinking No ( n = 240) 3 (1.2) 237 (98.8) 4 (1.7) 236 (98.3) 129 (53.8) 111 (46.2) 107 (44.6) 133 (55.4) Yes ( n = 175) 9 (5.1) 166 (94.9) 5 (2.9) 170 (97.1) 99 (56.6) 76 (43.4) 95 (54.3) 80 (45.7) p 0.034* 0.502 0.568 0.051 Eat at Campus Yes ( n = 369) 9 (2.4) 360 (97.6) 7 (1.9) 362 (98.1) 212 (57.5) 157 (42.5) 176 (47.7) 193 (52.3) No ( n = 46) 3 (6.5) 43 (93.5) 2 (4.3) 44 (95.7) 16 (34.8) 30 (65.2) 26 (56.5) 20 (43.5) p 0.137 0.262 0.004** 0.259 Total Meals at Campus Per Week < 5 ( n = 171) 4 (2.3) 167 (97.7) 3 (1.8) 168 (98.2) 87 (50.9) 84 (49.1) 85 (49.7) 86 (50.3) ≥ 5 ( n = 244) 8 (3.3) 236 (96.7) 6 (2.5) 238 (97.5) 141 (57.8) 103 (42.2) 117 (48.0) 127 (52.0) p 0.768 0.742 0.164 0.725 Do you think the beverages sold on campus are generally too sweet? No/Just Right/Don't know ( n = 357) 10 (2.8) 347 (97.2) 9 (2.5) 348 (97.5) 199 (55.7) 158 (44.3) 173 (48.5) 184 (51.5) Yes ( n = 58) 2 (3.4) 56 (96.6) 0 58 (100) 29 (50.0) 29 (50.0) 29 (50.0) 29 (50.0) p 0.678 0.62 0.415 0.828 p -values by Pearson’s Chi Square or Fischer Exact Test; p significant at *<0.05, **<0.01 Table 4 Opinions on the most appropriate utilisation of the revenue generated from the SSB tax across demographics and lifestyle factors Fundamental obesity interventions Researching cures for diseases exacerbated by excess sugar consumption Revenue for the government Subsidizing healthy foods Sex Male 23 (17.3) 33 (24.8) 10 (7.5) 67 (50.4) Female 47 (16.7) 58 (20.6) 27 (9.6) 150 (53.2) p 0.722 Age Group < 20 yr 26 (28.6) 20 (22.0) 10 (11.0) 35 (38.5) ≥ 20 yr 44 (13.6) 71 (21.9) 27 (8.3) 182 (56.2) p 0.003** Malaysian Yes 67 (16.8) 90 (22.6) 36 (9.0) 206 (51.6) No 3 (18.8) 1 (6.2) 1 (6.2) 11 (68.8) p NP Ethnicity Chinese 51 (17.0) 65 (21.7) 25 (8.3) 159 (53.0) Non-Chinese 19 (16.5) 26 (22.6) 12 (10.4) 58 (50.4) p 0.905 Highest Education Level Secondary 19 (25.0) 17 (22.4) 10 (13.2) 30 (39.5) Tertiary 51 (15.0) 74 (21.8) 27 (8.0) 187 (55.2) p 0.037* Diabetes History No 68 (17.0) 88 (22.0) 35 (8.8) 209 (52.2) Yes/Don't know 2 (13.3) 3 (20.0) 2 (13.3) 8 (53.3) p NP Current Tobacco Smoking No/Never 68 (16.8) 90 (22.3) 34 (8.4) 212 (52.5) Yes 2 (18.2) 1 (9.1) 3 (27.3) 5 (45.5) p NP Current Vaping No/Never 67 (17.0) 88 (22.4) 34 (8.7) 204 (51.9) Yes 3 (13.6) 3 (13.6) 3 (13.6) 13 (59.1) p NP Current Alcohol Drinking No 47 (19.6) 55 (22.9) 21 (8.8) 117 (48.8) Yes 23 (13.1) 36 (20.6) 16 (9.1) 100 (57.1) p 0.248 Numbers are frequency (percentages out of the total in the same row) p -values by Pearson’s Chi Square p significant at *<0.05, **<0.01 NP: Pearson’s Chi-Square test not performed due to cell(s) having frequency of < 5. 3.4 Opinions on Utilisation of SSB Tax Revenue Participants were asked to indicate their preferred use of revenue generated from the sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) tax. The most commonly selected option across the entire sample was subsidizing healthy foods, chosen by over half of both males (50.4%) and females (53.2%) respondents. A smaller proportion supported allocating funds to researching cures for sugar-related diseases (males: 24.8%, females: 20.6%) or fundamental obesity interventions (males: 17.3%, females: 16.7%). Only a minority favoured revenue for government use (males: 7.5%, females: 9.6%), and no significant sex-based differences were observed ( p = 0.722). Age group was significantly associated with preferences ( p = 0.003). Participants aged ≥ 20 years were more likely to support subsidizing healthy foods (56.2%) than those < 20 (38.5%), while younger respondents showed greater support for using revenue in obesity interventions (28.6% vs . 13.6%). Educational level was also significantly associated with revenue preferences ( p = 0.037), with those holding tertiary qualifications more likely to support healthy food subsidies (55.2%) compared to those with only secondary education (39.5%). No significant differences were found across sex, ethnicity, nationality, diabetes status, smoking, vaping, or alcohol use (all p > 0.05), although non-Malaysians showed a relatively higher preference for healthy food subsidies (68.8%). 4 Discussion This cross-sectional study assessed the KAPs related to SSB consumption and attitudes toward SSB taxation among university students and staff in Malaysia. The findings reveal several important patterns that offer insight into current perceptions and behaviours surrounding SSBs in an urban Malaysian educational setting. A striking observation was that the overwhelming majority of respondents demonstrated high knowledge about SSBs and their health implications. This suggests that general awareness regarding the negative health outcomes of excessive sugar intake—such as weight gain, dental caries, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease—is relatively widespread among this population. These findings are consistent with prior studies in Malaysia that have reported a growing public understanding of the health risks associated with added sugar consumption [ 18 – 23 ]. The high education level of the study population—most of whom had attained or were pursuing tertiary qualifications—may partly explain this finding, as educational attainment has been positively associated with nutrition knowledge [ 27 ]. However, the data also highlight a key limitation of knowledge-driven health models: while knowledge was positively correlated with favourable attitudes, it was negatively associated with healthy SSB consumption practices. This knowledge-practice disconnect is well-documented in health behaviour literature and is often explained by the Health Belief Model and Theory of Planned Behaviour, which emphasize the role of perceived behavioural control, environmental cues, social norms, and personal motivations in driving health-related behaviours [ 28 , 29 ]. Young adults may possess the knowledge required to make healthier choices, but may not act on it due to competing factors such as taste preferences, peer influence, convenience, affordability, or lack of appealing alternatives [ 30 ]. For instance, many SSBs are heavily marketed and priced competitively, while healthier options such as unsweetened beverages are often limited in availability or cost more, particularly in campus environments [ 13 ]. The finding that fewer than half of the participants demonstrated good SSB-related practices despite high knowledge and attitude scores underscores the need for more comprehensive interventions. Environmental and policy-level strategies—such as restrictions on the sale of sugary drinks, promotion of healthier beverages in campus cafeterias, and improved labelling—could support behaviour change. Indeed, a “Less Salt, Oil, Sugar (SOS)” executive order and campaign aiming at reducing the levels of salt, oil, and sugar in foods sold on campus at Sunway University and Sunway College has been launched in August 2024, as outlined in our protocol paper [ 26 ]. Educational campaigns should also shift from simply raising awareness to reshaping norms and facilitating practical behaviour change, possibly through nudging techniques or structured behavioural interventions [ 31 ]. The observed support for sugar taxation among just over half of the respondents is encouraging, as public acceptance is often a key determinant of policy success. Support for such fiscal measures has been shown to be higher when individuals perceive a direct link between the tax and public health benefit, especially if the revenue is reinvested in health promotion or subsidies for healthier food options [ 32 , 33 ]. Our finding that participants with healthier SSB practices were also more likely to support sugar taxation aligns with earlier work suggesting that those who are already health-conscious may be more inclined to endorse regulatory interventions [ 34 ]. Interestingly, tax attitudes were significantly associated with sex and ethnicity, with males and non-Chinese participants showing greater support. These differences may reflect variations in health priorities, cultural perceptions of sugar, or differential exposure to chronic disease burdens within subgroups. This highlights the importance of culturally sensitive messaging when advocating for sugar tax policies. In this study, non-drinkers were significantly more likely to have high knowledge scores regarding SSBs, with non-drinkers having over four times the odds of higher knowledge compared to drinkers. Similarly, non-vapers were significantly more likely to report healthier SSB consumption practices, with nearly three times the odds of favourable behaviour compared to vapers. These findings reinforce the clustering of health-conscious behaviours, where individuals who avoid one risk behaviour—such as alcohol use or vaping—are also more likely to engage in other positive health actions, such as limiting SSB intake. This behavioural pattern is consistent with prior studies suggesting that lifestyle choices often reflect broader orientations toward health or risk, influenced by self-regulation, health literacy, and social norms [ 35 – 37 ]. These insights underscore the need for integrated interventions that address multiple health behaviours simultaneously rather than in isolation. An unexpected finding in this study was that healthier SSB-related practices were significantly associated with not eating on campus. This contrasts with initial assumptions that campus dining might promote healthier dietary behaviours, possibly due to institutional nutrition policies or exposure to health campaigns. However, the association suggests that food and beverage environments within campus settings may, in fact, encourage the consumption of SSBs. This is supported by local observations that many campus cafeterias and vending machines offer easy access to sweetened drinks, often at lower prices than healthier alternatives like bottled water or unsweetened beverages [ 7 ]. Students and staff who eat off campus may have more diverse food choices or greater agency in selecting healthier options, particularly if they prepare their own meals or frequent establishments with more health-conscious offerings. These findings are consistent with research emphasizing the role of the food environment in shaping consumption patterns, where availability, affordability, and marketing strongly influence behaviour [ 4 , 13 ]. This result underscores the need for Malaysian universities and colleges to audit and improve their on-campus food environments. Measures could include limiting the availability of sugary drinks, providing healthier beverage options, clear labelling of sugar content, and promoting water consumption. Such structural interventions may be critical in closing the knowledge-practice gap observed among university populations. The finding that a third of participants were unsure whether beverages sold on campus were too sweet points to a lack of awareness or engagement with the sugar content of available beverages. This may reflect the absence of clear labelling, nutritional transparency, or limited discourse around sugar in institutional settings. Such uncertainty suggests an opportunity for targeted interventions, such as front-of-package sugar content labelling or “traffic light” systems that visually cue consumers to the sugar content of drinks [ 38 ]. Finally, the findings related to the public’s opinion on the utilization of sugar tax revenue provide critical insights into how fiscal health policies may gain broader support. A clear preference was observed for allocating tax revenue toward subsidizing healthy foods, suggesting a public inclination toward positive, supportive health measures rather than punitive ones. This aligns with global evidence indicating that public acceptability of sugar taxes improves when the revenue is transparently earmarked for health-related purposes such as nutrition education, subsidies for fruits and vegetables, or community health programs [ 32 , 33 ]. Age and education level emerged as significant factors shaping these preferences. Younger individuals (< 20 years) were more likely to endorse funding for obesity interventions, possibly reflecting a greater concern with weight and appearance or earlier exposure to school-based obesity messaging. In contrast, older participants favoured subsidies for healthy foods, indicating a more systemic, preventive approach to health promotion. Similarly, those with tertiary education may better understand the broader public health benefits of food subsidies, including increased accessibility and affordability of healthier alternatives, especially for lower-income groups. These patterns reinforce the importance of tailoring public health messaging according to demographic segments to ensure effective communication and policy acceptance [ 13 ]. The lack of significant associations with sex, ethnicity, and lifestyle behaviours such as smoking and alcohol use may indicate a relatively unified perception of the most acceptable use of SSB tax revenue. However, the higher preference for subsidies among non-Malaysians, though not statistically significant, points to a potentially greater receptivity to structural interventions among this group, possibly due to cultural or national policy exposure differences. This study has several limitations. First, its cross-sectional design precludes causal interpretations. Second, the reliance on self-reported measures may introduce recall and social desirability biases. Third, while the sample was diverse in sex, age, and ethnicity, it was drawn from a single institution, limiting the generalizability of findings. Future research should involve multiple universities and include a broader range of socioeconomic backgrounds to provide more nationally representative insights. Moreover, qualitative studies could explore the deeper psychosocial and cultural factors that influence SSB consumption and taxation attitudes in the Malaysian context. 5 Conclusion In conclusion, this study reveals high levels of knowledge and positive attitudes toward reducing SSB intake and implementing sugar taxes among university students and staff, but these are not always reflected in practice. The persistence of the knowledge-practice gap and the moderate support for taxation underscore the need for multi-level strategies that combine education with policy, environmental change, and behaviourally informed design. As Malaysia continues to combat rising rates of non-communicable diseases, such efforts are essential for shifting dietary norms and promoting long-term health across generations. Declarations Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank all participants for participating in this study. We also would like to acknowledge Prof. Sibrandes Poppema, Ms. Linda Tan, Ms. Chong Lee Lee, the Facilities Department, the Branding Department, and the food vendors of Sunway Education Group for their efforts in supporting this study and the reduction of salt, sugar, and oil in the food sold on campus. Author contributions Conceptualization: YHS and YCC; Methodology: YHS and YCC; Data collection: KG, WXC, KHL, JYN, JYY, and MHC; Formal analysis: KG and YHS; Writing - original draft preparation: KG and YHS; Writing - review and editing: KG, YHS, and YCC; Supervision: YHS, TPL and YCC. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript. Funding This work is supported by the Sunway University Research Accelerator Grant Scheme (RAGS) No: GRTIN-RAG-DMS-16-2024 and the Malaysian Society of Hypertension Research Grant No.: MSH 2024/01. The funding bodies played no role in the design of the study and collection, analysis, and interpretation of data and in writing the manuscript. Data availability The datasets used and analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable requests. Ethical approval Ethical approval was obtained from Sunway University Research Ethics Committee (SUREC) with the approval number SUREC 2024/029 before conducting the study. Consent to participate Written informed consent was obtained from all participants before conducting this study. Conflict of interest The authors declare no competing interests. References Malik VS, Hu FB. The role of sugar-sweetened beverages in the global epidemics of obesity and chronic diseases. Nat Rev Endocrinol. 2022;18:205–18. Imamura F, O’Connor L, Ye Z, Mursu J, Hayashino Y, Bhupathiraju SN, et al. Consumption of sugar sweetened beverages, artificially sweetened beverages, and fruit juice and incidence of type 2 diabetes: systematic review, meta-analysis, and estimation of population attributable fraction. Br J Sports Med. 2016;50:496–504. Bleich SN, Vercammen KA. The negative impact of sugar-sweetened beverages on children’s health: an update of the literature. BMC Obes. 2018;5:6. World Health Organization (WHO). Guideline: Sugars intake for adults and children. [Internet]. World Health Organization (WHO); 2015 [cited 2025 Jun 23]. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241549028 Ng M, Gakidou E, Lo J, Abate YH, Abbafati C, Abbas N, et al. Global, regional, and national prevalence of adult overweight and obesity, 1990–2021, with forecasts to 2050: a forecasting study for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. The Lancet. 2025;405:813–38. Institute for Public Health (IPH). 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Pakistan J of Nutrition. 2019;18:354–63. Shyam S. Developments in the implementation of sugar-sweetened beverage tax in Malaysia – A narrative review. IeJSME. 2019;13:12–22. Ministry of Finance Malaysia. Budget 2019 [Internet]. Ministry of Finance Malaysia; 2018 [cited 2024 Sep 2]. Available from: https://www.mof.gov.my/portal/arkib/budget/bs_Main.html WHO Manual on Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Taxation Policies to Promote Healthy Diets. 1st ed. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2022. Backholer K, Sarink D, Beauchamp A, Keating C, Loh V, Ball K, et al. The impact of a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages according to socio-economic position: a systematic review of the evidence. Public Health Nutr. 2016;19:3070–84. Stacey N, Mudara C, Ng SW, Van Walbeek C, Hofman K, Edoka I. Sugar-based beverage taxes and beverage prices: Evidence from South Africa’s Health Promotion Levy. Social Science & Medicine. 2019;238:112465. Ministry of Finance Malaysia. Budget 2025 [Internet]. 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Development and validation of a questionnaire assessing the knowledge, attitudes and practices of young adults in Malaysia towards sugar sweetened beverages. ijrps. 2019;10:2992–9. Aida Aliah Abu Bakar, Hussin N, Abbe Maleyki Mhd. Jalil, Marhazlina Mohamad. ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SUGAR-SWEETENED BEVERAGE CONSUMPTION AND BODY MASS INDEX AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN KUALA NERUS, TERENGGANU, MALAYSIA. MJPHM. 2020;20:19–26. Kabilan S, Tiagarajan SA, Nagarajah SAT, Manisegaran SA, Cugati N, Ganapathy S. Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Sugar-sweetened Beverages among Students in Malaysian University. Journal of South Asian Association of Pediatric Dentistry. 2025;8:34–8. Abu Bakar SNAA, Ali A, Abdul Rahman AR, Mhd Jalil AM, Zakaria NS. Unraveling the Sugar Rush: A Cross-sectional Study of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Related to Sugar- Sweetened Beverages Consumption among Malaysian Young Adults. MJMHS. 2024;20:152–60. Teng NIMF, Juliana N, Izlin NL, Semaon NZ. Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages: A Cross-Sectional Study among Adolescents in Selangor, Malaysia. Nutrients. 2020;12:3617. Alothmani NM, Almoraie NM. Understanding the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Concerning Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Beverage Taxation among Saudi University Students. Nutrients. 2023;15:4151. Rivard C, Smith D, McCann SE, Hyland A. Taxing sugar-sweetened beverages: a survey of knowledge, attitudes and behaviours. Public Health Nutr. 2012;15:1355–61. Chia YC, Say Y-H, Cheng MH, Chung FFL, Lau TP, Ooi PB. Reduction of Salt and Sugar Contents in Canteen Foods, and Intakes among Students and Staff at a Malaysian Higher Education Institution: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study (Preprint). JMIR Research Protocols [Internet]. 2024 [cited 2025 May 23]; Available from: http://preprints.jmir.org/preprint/69610/accepted Sandri E, Pardo J, Cantín Larumbe E, Cerdá Olmedo G, Falcó A. Analysis of the influence of educational level on the nutritional status and lifestyle habits of the young Spanish population. Front Public Health. 2024;12:1341420. Ajzen I. The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes. 1991;50:179–211. Glanz K, Rimer BK, Viswanath K, editors. Health behavior: theory, research, and practice. Fifth edition. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass & Pfeiffer Imprints, Wiley; 2015. Fernqvist F, Spendrup S, Tellström R. Understanding food choice: A systematic review of reviews. Heliyon. 2024;10:e32492. Adkisson RV. Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth and Happiness. The Social Science Journal. 2008;45:700–1. Donaldson EA, Cohen JE, Rutkow L, Villanti AC, Kanarek NF, Barry CL. Public support for a sugar-sweetened beverage tax and pro-tax messages in a Mid-Atlantic US state. Public Health Nutr. 2015;18:2263–73. Gollust SE, Barry CL, Niederdeppe J. Americans’ opinions about policies to reduce consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. Preventive Medicine. 2014;63:52–7. Sarda B, Debras C, Chazelas E, Péneau S, Le Bodo Y, Hercberg S, et al. Public perception of the tax on sweetened beverages in France. Public Health Nutr. 2022;25:3240–51. Dunton GF, Huh J, Leventhal AM, Riggs N, Hedeker D, Spruijt-Metz D, et al. Momentary assessment of affect, physical feeling states, and physical activity in children. Health Psychology. 2014;33:255–63. Zhu H, Zhou H, Qin Q, Zhang W. Association between Smoking and Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption, Tooth Brushing among Adolescents in China. Children (Basel). 2022;9:1008. Luszczynska A, Scholz U, Schwarzer R. The General Self-Efficacy Scale: Multicultural Validation Studies. The Journal of Psychology. 2005;139:439–57. Scapin T, Fernandes AC, Curioni CC, Pettigrew S, Neal B, Coyle DH, et al. Influence of sugar label formats on consumer understanding and amount of sugar in food choices: a systematic review and meta-analyses. Nutrition Reviews. 2021;79:788–801. Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-6980853","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":477123426,"identity":"a00a7926-bae2-4924-b0c4-4c2a084eb8d7","order_by":0,"name":"Yee-How Say","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA5klEQVRIiWNgGAWjYHACNhAhh+AfIFKLMelaEhuI1mJwvPnYg49tdenzZ+Qek/jZxiDHdyOBdTMPPi1njqUbzmw7nLvhRl6aZG8bg7HkjQS223i13Mgxk+bddiB3g0SO2Q3eNobEDQS13H//DailLl1+Ro7Zzb9tDPWEtdzgYQNqYU5gAFp3G2hLggEhLZJn0swkZ/47bLjhzBvz3zLnJAxnnnnYdnMOHi18xw8/k/hwpk5evj3H2PBNmY083/HkYzfe4NGicACZx8gmASIbmPA5TL4BhfsHqvUHHi2jYBSMglEw4gAAMFFUfZhSuBsAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"","institution":"Sunway University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yee-How","middleName":"","lastName":"Say","suffix":""},{"id":477123427,"identity":"413d40dc-9a47-472c-adee-4cc7189955d8","order_by":1,"name":"Jia Ying Yeoh","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Sunway University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Jia","middleName":"Ying","lastName":"Yeoh","suffix":""},{"id":477123428,"identity":"42092979-0933-4d5b-b0d8-9429e8b11786","order_by":2,"name":"Kelvin Gunawan","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Sunway University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Kelvin","middleName":"","lastName":"Gunawan","suffix":""},{"id":477123429,"identity":"4e3a644a-0f28-4745-82da-f96daf936baf","order_by":3,"name":"Wen Xuan Chia","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Sunway University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Wen","middleName":"Xuan","lastName":"Chia","suffix":""},{"id":477123430,"identity":"ca70d165-5b58-48bc-88ea-84232bd54a0a","order_by":4,"name":"Kai Hui Lee","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Sunway University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Kai","middleName":"Hui","lastName":"Lee","suffix":""},{"id":477123431,"identity":"94255895-731b-4346-a3bf-47a29df0e8d5","order_by":5,"name":"Jia Yi Ng","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Sunway University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Jia","middleName":"Yi","lastName":"Ng","suffix":""},{"id":477123432,"identity":"e37dd954-9d5f-4a7c-aa11-d4562f3c345f","order_by":6,"name":"Tze Pheng Lau","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Sunway University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Tze","middleName":"Pheng","lastName":"Lau","suffix":""},{"id":477123433,"identity":"21adbdb3-b087-4da4-90c9-451777b67d81","order_by":7,"name":"Maong Hui Cheng","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Sunway University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Maong","middleName":"Hui","lastName":"Cheng","suffix":""},{"id":477123434,"identity":"0b925270-4fce-4099-9de0-c461277141c5","order_by":8,"name":"Yook Chin Chia","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Sunway University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yook","middleName":"Chin","lastName":"Chia","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-06-26 07:53:17","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6980853/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6980853/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[{"content":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-01320-z","type":"published","date":"2026-01-02T15:57:31+00:00"}],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":99545253,"identity":"36247414-660e-47f9-8159-bff709a84c7b","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-01-05 16:04:06","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1607650,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-6980853/v1/b84448ec-6798-437b-ae5c-027411976254.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Intake and Attitudes on Sugar Taxation: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Students and Staff of a Malaysian University/College","fulltext":[{"header":"1 Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe global escalation of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), particularly obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disease, has been strongly linked to unhealthy dietary patterns, including excessive intake of added sugars [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e]. Among the most significant contributors to this excess are sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), which include carbonated soft drinks, flavoured juices, energy drinks, sweetened milk, and sweetened teas or coffees [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e]. These beverages provide high amounts of energy but minimal to no nutritional value, making them one of the primary dietary drivers of weight gain, metabolic syndrome, and other chronic illnesses [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e]. Furthermore, frequent consumption of SSBs is associated with increased total daily caloric intake, displacement of healthier beverages, such as water and milk, and heightened risk of dental caries in both children and adults [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn Southeast Asia, the nutrition transition\u0026mdash;characterized by increasing consumption of processed foods and beverages\u0026mdash;has accelerated the public health impact of SSBs, particularly among adolescents and young adults [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e]. According to the latest Malaysia National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2024, two-thirds of adolescents and half of adults consume free sugars amounting to more than 37.5g or 7.5 teaspoons a day, where half of free sugars came from SSBs [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e]. In the same survey, it was found that Malaysian adults consumed consume 7.3 servings of prepared SSB a week, 1.6 times higher than the 4.6 weekly servings of ready-to-drink SSB [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e]. While awareness of the harmful health effects of sugar is growing, consumption remains high due to affordability, availability, aggressive marketing, and cultural preferences [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e]. University students, in particular, are a high-risk group due to their increased dietary independence, exposure to convenience foods, and tendency to consume sugary drinks for stress relief, social engagement, or energy [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eRecognizing the health and economic burden of high sugar intake, the Malaysian government introduced a sugar tax in July 2019 as a fiscal policy tool aimed at discouraging consumption and encouraging reformulation of sugary drinks [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e]. The excise tax, which applies to ready-to-drink beverages containing more than 5g of sugar per 100 ml [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e], seeks to align Malaysia with international public health best practices [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e]. Similar taxes implemented in countries like Mexico, the United Kingdom, and South Africa have shown modest but promising reductions in SSB consumption and product reformulation by manufacturers [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e]. Recently, in the Malaysian Budget 2025, the SSB excise duty was increased by MYR 0.40 to MYR 0.90 per litre [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e]. This tax, however, only applies to ready-to-drink products, not SSB prepared for order at eateries, which, as shown by NHMS 2024, is more commonly consumed by adults than ready-to-drink SSB. However, the success of such policies depends significantly on public support and understanding. Previous studies have demonstrated that knowledge of health risks, positive attitudes toward healthy behaviour, and support for taxation are interrelated and may influence consumer choices and political will [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrevious studies in Malaysia examining the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) among youths [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR19 CR20 CR21 CR22\" citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e] have consistently demonstrated suboptimal knowledge and unhealthy consumption patterns, despite a moderate level of awareness regarding the health risks associated with excessive sugar intake. High consumption of SSBs remains prevalent, particularly among adolescents and university students, and has been positively associated with overweight/obesity assessed by elevated body mass index (BMI) and adiposity. Although several validated tools have been developed to assess SSB-related KAP, findings repeatedly reveal a disconnect between knowledge and actual behaviour, suggesting that awareness alone is insufficient to drive meaningful change in consumption habits. While some global studies have explored public attitudes toward sugar taxes [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e24\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e25\u003c/span\u003e], there remains a paucity of empirical data in Malaysia examining how young adults\u0026rsquo; KAP of SSBs influences their perceptions and acceptance of sugar taxation. Understanding this relationship is crucial, as young adults not only represent a key demographic with high SSB consumption but also serve as future drivers of public opinion and policy compliance. Without such insights, current interventions may fail to resonate with their target audience, limiting their long-term impact. This gap underscores the need for comprehensive research that links SSB-related KAP with perceptions of sugar tax policies, to inform more effective health promotion strategies and policy design in the Malaysian context.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTherefore, this study was conducted to investigate the KAP of SSB intake, as well as attitudes toward SSB/sugar taxation, among students and staff of Sunway University and Sunway College, Malaysia. Specifically, the study aimed to: 1. Assess the levels of SSB-related KAP; 2. Examine the interrelationships among these KAP components and specifically attitudes toward sugar taxation; and 3. Explore demographic and lifestyle factors associated with these domains. By elucidating these patterns, this study contributes to the growing body of evidence needed to inform multisectoral public health strategies that promote healthier beverage choices and reinforce the implementation of sugar-related fiscal policies in Malaysia.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"2 Methodology","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.1 Study design\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study was a cross-sectional study conducted to determine the KAP of SSB intake and SSB/sugar tax attitudes among students and staff of Sunway University and Sunway College, Malaysia. The study was conducted from April to June 2024 after obtaining approval from the Sunway University Research Ethics Committee (SUREC) (Approval number: SUREC 2024/029). The study was conducted in accordance with the ethical guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki. All participants provided their written informed consent. This study has been registered at \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06473038\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06473038\" targettype=\"URL\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e with the registration date of June 25, 2024.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec4\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.2 Participants, procedures, and sample size calculation\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe inclusion criteria for the participants were: 1. Students and staff of Sunway University and Sunway College aged 18 years and above; 2. Able to provide informed consent (written \u0026ndash; in Google Forms) to participate; 3. Understands English, while the exclusion criterion was individuals with acute illness, psychological or psychiatric conditions, which may affect the ability to answer the survey questions objectively. Participants were recruited by convenience sampling, via a booth set up at a campus location with high foot traffic, online publicity materials, and word-of-mouth. The QR code for the Google Form questionnaire (in English) was provided in the publicity materials. The questionnaire included the participant information sheet, consent form, socio-demographic information, and questions related to KAP of SSB intake and SSB/sugar tax attitudes. All participants provided their written informed consent in the online form. Participants took 10\u0026ndash;15 minutes to complete all the questionnaires, and upon successful completion, they were compensated with a voucher worth MYR 10. Using Raosoft's sample size online calculator (\u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttp://www.raosoft.com/samplesize.html\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"http://www.raosoft.com/samplesize.html\" targettype=\"URL\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e), a minimum sample size of 377 is needed in order to achieve a 5% margin of error, 95% confidence level, a Sunway University and Sunway College population size of around 20,000, and a 50% response distribution.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec5\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.3 Questionnaire\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Google Forms questionnaire consisted of: 1. Socio-demographic and lifestyle factors \u0026ndash; questions such as age, sex, ethnicity, highest education level, smoking, vaping, and alcohol-drinking practices, and medical history of diabetes; 2. Practice and frequency of eating meals on campus and general perception of the sweetness levels of beverages sold on campus; 3. KAP of SSBs, adopted from [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e], and SSB/sugar tax attitudes, adopted from [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e24\u003c/span\u003e]. The full protocol and questionnaire are described in our protocol paper [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e26\u003c/span\u003e]. The questionnaire on KAP of SSBs comprised a total of 31 dichotomous items, including 18 questions on knowledge, 6 on attitudes, and 7 on practices. In brief, the items in the knowledge domain assessed the facts related to the nutrition of SSBs, and the effects of frequent consumption of SSBs in the development of diseases; the attitude domain covers the aspect of identifying awareness on consuming SSBs on a daily basis as well as healthy behaviours in the selection of SSBs; the practice domain assessed behaviours or actions that have been implemented and practiced whenever selecting and preparing beverages daily. Each item required a binary response (yes/no or agree/disagree), with correct responses scored as one point and incorrect responses scored as zero. The maximum score for each KAP domain corresponded to the number of items in that domain, with higher scores indicating better knowledge, more favourable attitudes, or healthier practices. Participants were categorized into two levels within each domain based on their total score. For knowledge, scores of 9 to 18 were classified as \u0026ldquo;high knowledge,\u0026rdquo; while scores of 0 to 8 were classified as \u0026ldquo;low knowledge.\u0026rdquo; Attitude scores were categorized as \u0026ldquo;positive attitude\u0026rdquo; (3\u0026ndash;6) and \u0026ldquo;negative attitude\u0026rdquo; (0\u0026ndash;2). For practices, scores of 4 to 7 indicated \u0026ldquo;good practice,\u0026rdquo; whereas scores of 0 to 3 indicated \u0026ldquo;poor practice.\u0026rdquo; [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e]. For sugar/SSB tax attitudes, three questions were asked: 1. \u0026ldquo;What did you do when the SSBs tax was introduced?\u0026rdquo; with possible answers: \u0026ldquo;Replace it with non-taxable drinks (such as fresh fruit juices, water, or unflavoured milk)\u0026rdquo;, \u0026ldquo;Reduce consumption of SSBs (such as soft drinks and energy drinks)\u0026rdquo;, and \u0026ldquo;There is no change at all\u0026rdquo;. One point was awarded for the correct answer, \u0026ldquo;Replace it with non-taxable drinks (such as fresh fruit juices, water, or unflavoured milk),\u0026rdquo; and zero points were given for the remaining answers; 2. \u0026ldquo;Indicate your agreement that you are in favour of the Malaysian SSBs tax\u0026rdquo; with possible answers: \u0026ldquo;Strongly disagree, disagree, neutral, agree, strongly agree\u0026rdquo;. Two points were awarded for \u0026ldquo;strongly agree and agree\u0026rdquo;, one point for \u0026ldquo;neutral\u0026rdquo;, and zero points for \u0026ldquo;strongly disagree and disagree\u0026rdquo;; 3. \u0026ldquo;From the options provided below, what would you most prefer the money generated from the sugar tax be used for?\u0026rdquo; with possible answers: \u0026ldquo;Fundamental obesity interventions\u0026rdquo;, \u0026ldquo;Revenue for the government\u0026rdquo;, \u0026ldquo;Subsidizing healthy foods\u0026rdquo;, and \u0026ldquo;Researching cures for diseases exacerbated by excess sugar consumption\u0026rdquo;[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e24\u003c/span\u003e]. The sum of scores (from questions 1 and 2) of 0\u0026ndash;2 was considered as having \u0026ldquo;negative attitudes\u0026rdquo;, while scores of 3\u0026ndash;4 were considered as having \u0026ldquo;positive attitudes\u0026rdquo; (3\u0026ndash;4)[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e24\u003c/span\u003e]. All questions were set as compulsory and full completion is required before clicking the \u0026ldquo;submit\u0026rdquo; button.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec6\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e2.4 Statistical analysis\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eDescriptive statistics were used to summarize participant characteristics. The conformity of the continuous variables to normal distribution was determined by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, where \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05 indicates normally-distributed data. As the continuous variables were all not normally-distributed, they were expressed as medians with interquartile ranges (IQRs), while categorical variables were presented as frequencies and percentages. Pearson\u0026rsquo;s chi-square test or Fisher\u0026rsquo;s exact test (for small cell counts) was used to determine significant associations or differences within the categorical data. Spearman\u0026rsquo;s rank correlation test was used to examine associations among knowledge, attitudes, practices, and sugar tax attitudes. Binary logistic regression was performed to derive the Odds Ratio (OR), 95% Confidence Interval (CI), and \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e-value for significant results generated from Pearson\u0026rsquo;s chi-square test. Statistical significance was set at \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"3 Results","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec8\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.1 Participant Characteristics\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA total of 415 participants were recruited in this study with the median age of 21\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;5 years. The majority of participants were females (68.0%), Malaysian citizens (96.1%), and Chinese (72.3%), had attained tertiary education (81.7%) at either the pre-university/foundation/diploma level (35.9%), undergraduate level (29.6%), or postgraduate level (16.1%) (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). A very small proportion of participants reported a history of diabetes (3.6%), and the prevalence of current tobacco smoking (2.7%), vaping (5.3%), and daily alcohol use (0.5%) was also low (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). More than half of the participants (57.8%) reported never consuming alcohol, while 40.0% reported drinking one to three times per month (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). A large majority of participants (88.9%) reported eating on campus, with 68.8% consuming five or more meals per week at campus food outlets (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). When asked about the sweetness of beverages sold on campus, 14.0% believed they were too sweet, 38.3% felt the sweetness was just right, and 33.5% were unsure (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBaseline demographic and lifestyle characteristics of the participants\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"2\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVariables\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eN\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;415\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAge (Median\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;IQR)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e21\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSex\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e133 (32.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e282 (68.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAge Group\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;20 years old\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e91 (21.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e21\u0026ndash;25 years old\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e225 (54.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;25 years old\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e99 (23.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMalaysian\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e399 (96.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16 (3.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eEthnicity\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMalay/Bumiputra Sabah/Sarawak\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e40 (9.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eChinese\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e300 (72.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eIndian\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e59 (14.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNon-Malaysian Asians/Africans/Europeans\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16 (3.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHighest Education Level\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSecondary\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e76 (18.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTertiary \u0026ndash; Pre-university/ foundation/diploma\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e149 (35.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTertiary \u0026ndash; Undergraduate\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e123 (29.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTertiary - Postgraduate\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e67 (16.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDiabetes History\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e400 (96.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8 (1.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDon\u0026rsquo;t know\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7 (1.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCurrent Tobacco Smoking\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo/Never\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e404 (97.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11 (2.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCurrent Vaping\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo/Never\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e393 (94.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22 (5.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCurrent Alcohol Drinking\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNever\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e240 (57.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u0026ndash;3 times/month\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e166 (40.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u0026ndash;6 times/month\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7 (1.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDaily\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2 (0.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eEat at Campus\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e369 (88.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e46 (11.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eTotal Meals at Campus Per Week\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;5 meals/week\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e171 (41.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;5 meals/week\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e244 (68.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDo you think the beverages sold on campus are generally too sweet?\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e59 (14.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eJust right\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e159 (38.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e58 (14.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDon\u0026rsquo;t know\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e139 (33.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec9\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.2 Correlations Between SSB Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and Tax Attitudes\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA significant positive correlation was found between knowledge and attitude scores (\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.265, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001) (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e), indicating that participants with greater knowledge about SSBs were more likely to hold favourable attitudes toward reducing consumption. Knowledge also showed a statistically significant, albeit weaker, positive correlation with SSB tax attitude scores (\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.110, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.025) (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e), suggesting that higher knowledge was associated with greater support for taxation of SSBs. However, a significant negative correlation was observed between knowledge and practice scores (\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e = \u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;0.191, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001) (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e), indicating that increased knowledge did not necessarily translate to healthier beverage consumption behaviours. Practice scores were positively correlated with attitudes toward SSB taxation (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.176, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001) (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e), suggesting that individuals with favourable tax attitudes also tended to report better beverage consumption practices. The correlation between SSB attitudes and tax attitudes was not statistically significant (\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.075, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.125) (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCorrelations of SSB Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, and Tax Attitude\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"5\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSSB Knowledge Score\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSSB Practice Score\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSSB Attitude Score\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSSB Tax Attitude\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSSB Knowledge Score\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.000\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.191\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.265\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.110\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001**\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001**\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.025*\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSSB Practice Score\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.191\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.000\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.082\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.176\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001**\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.094\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001**\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSSB Attitude Score\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.265\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e-0.082\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.000\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.075\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001**\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.094\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.125\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSSB Tax Attitude\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.110\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.176\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.075\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1.000\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.025*\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001**\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.125\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003ctfoot\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"5\"\u003e\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e-values by Spearman\u0026rsquo;s rank correlation test; \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e significant at *\u0026lt;0.05, **\u0026lt;0.01\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tfoot\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec10\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.3 Associations Between SSB Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and Sociodemographic or Lifestyle Factors\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eOverall, the majority of respondents demonstrated high knowledge (97.1%) and positive attitudes (97.8%) regarding SSB consumption, though fewer reported good practices (47.5%) or positive attitudes toward sugar taxation (51.3%) (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e). Sex was found to be significantly associated with SSB tax attitudes (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.024) (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e), where a higher proportion of males expressed support for taxation policies compared to females [OR (95% CI); \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e for males\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1.616 (1.064, 2.453); 0.024]. Ethnicity was also significantly associated with tax attitudes (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.049) (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e), with non-Chinese participants more likely to report positive views toward sugar taxation than Chinese participants [OR (95% CI); \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e for non-Chinese\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;1.547 (1.001, 2.390); 0.050]. A significant association was observed between alcohol consumption and knowledge scores (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.034) (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e), where non-drinkers were more likely to have high knowledge scores [OR (95% CI); \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e for non-drinkers\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;4.283 (1.142, 16.059); 0.031]. Vaping status was significantly associated with SSB practice scores (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.031) (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e), indicating that non-vapers were more likely to report favourable consumption behaviours [OR (95% CI); \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e for non-vapers\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;2.933 (1.061, 8.106); 0.038]. Additionally, not eating on campus was significantly associated with better practice scores (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.004) (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e), with those not consuming meals on campus more frequently reporting healthier SSB practices [OR (95% CI); \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e for non-campus eaters\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;2.532 (1.334, 4.806); 0.004]. No statistically significant associations were found between SSB KAP or tax attitudes and other demographic factors such as age group, nationality, education level, diabetes status, tobacco smoking, total meals consumed on campus per week, or perception of sweetness of campus beverages (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAssociation of Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) on SSB intake and tax attitude with demographics and lifestyle factors\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"14\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c9\" colnum=\"9\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c10\" colnum=\"10\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c11\" colnum=\"11\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c12\" colnum=\"12\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c13\" colnum=\"13\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c14\" colnum=\"14\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVariables\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSSB Knowledge Category\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSSB Attitude Category\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSSB Practice Category\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c14\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSSB Tax Attitude Category\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLow\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e(\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;12)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHigh\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e(\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;403)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNegative\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e(\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePositive\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e(\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;406)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePoor\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e(\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;228)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGood\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e(\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;197)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNegative\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e(\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;202)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePositive\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e(\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;213)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSex\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMale (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;133)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6 (4.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e127 (95.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4 (3.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e129 (97.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e77 (57.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e56 (42.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e54 (40.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e79 (59.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFemale (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;282)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6 (2.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e276 (97.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5 (1.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e277 (98.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e151 (53.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e131 (46.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e148 (52.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e134 (47.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.176\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.476\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.406\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c14\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.024*\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAge Group\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;20\u0026nbsp;year (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;91)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3 (3.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e88 (96.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1 (1.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e90 (98.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e56 (61.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e35 (38.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e40 (44.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e51 (56.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;20\u0026nbsp;year (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;324)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9 (2.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e315 (97.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8 (2.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e316 (97.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e172 (53.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e152 (46.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e162 (50.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e162 (50.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.731\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.691\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.19\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c14\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.343\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMalaysian\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;399)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12 (3.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e387 (97.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9 (100)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e390 (97.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e220 (55.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e179 (44.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e196 (49.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e203 (50.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;16)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16 (4.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16 (3.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8 (50.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8 (50.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6 (37.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10 (62.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.685\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c14\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.362\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eEthnicity\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eChinese (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;300)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9 (3.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e291 (97.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7 (2.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e293 (97.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e168 (56.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e132 (44.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e155 (51.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e145 (48.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNon-Chinese (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;115)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3 (2.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e112 (97.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2 (1.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e113 (98.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e60 (52.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e55 (47.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e47 (40.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e68 (59.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.483\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c14\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.049*\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHighest Education Level\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSecondary (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;76)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e76 (18.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1 (11.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e75 (18.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e40 (17.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e36 (19.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e36 (17.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e40 (18.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTertiary (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;339)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12 (100)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e327 (81.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8 (88.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e331 (81.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e188 (82.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e151 (80.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e166 (82.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e173 (81.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.135\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.703\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c14\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.899\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDiabetes History\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;400)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11 (2.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e389 (97.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8 (2.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e392 (98.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e221 (55.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e179 (44.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e196 (49.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e204 (51.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes/Don't know (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;15)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1 (6.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14 (93.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1 (6.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e14 (93.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7 (46.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8 (53.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6 (40.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9 (60.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.361\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.284\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.601\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c14\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.602\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCurrent Tobacco Smoking\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo/Never (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;404)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12 (3.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e392 (97.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9 (2.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e395 (97.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e220 (54.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e184 (45.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e196 (948.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e208 (51.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;11)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11 (100)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11 (100)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8 (72.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3 (27.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6 (54.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5 (45.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.229\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c14\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.693\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c2\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCurrent Vaping\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo/Never (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;393)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12 (3.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e381 (96.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9 (2.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e384 (97.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e211 (53.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e182 (46.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e192 (48.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e201 (51.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;22)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22 (100)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e22 (100)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e17 (77.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5 (22.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10 (45.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12 (54.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.031*\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c14\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.756\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCurrent Alcohol Drinking\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;240)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3 (1.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e237 (98.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4 (1.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e236 (98.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e129 (53.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e111 (46.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e107 (44.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e133 (55.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;175)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9 (5.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e166 (94.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5 (2.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e170 (97.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e99 (56.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e76 (43.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e95 (54.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e80 (45.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.034*\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.502\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.568\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c14\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.051\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eEat at Campus\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;369)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9 (2.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e360 (97.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7 (1.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e362 (98.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e212 (57.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e157 (42.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e176 (47.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e193 (52.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;46)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3 (6.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e43 (93.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2 (4.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e44 (95.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16 (34.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30 (65.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e26 (56.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20 (43.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.137\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.262\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.004**\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c14\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.259\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eTotal Meals at Campus Per Week\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c8\" namest=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c10\" namest=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c12\" namest=\"c11\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c14\" namest=\"c13\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;5 (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;171)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4 (2.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e167 (97.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3 (1.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e168 (98.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e87 (50.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e84 (49.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e85 (49.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e86 (50.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;5 (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;244)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8 (3.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e236 (96.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6 (2.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e238 (97.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e141 (57.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e103 (42.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e117 (48.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e127 (52.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.768\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.742\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.164\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c14\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.725\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"14\" nameend=\"c14\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDo you think the beverages sold on campus are generally too sweet?\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo/Just Right/Don't know (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;357)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10 (2.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e347 (97.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e9 (2.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e348 (97.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e199 (55.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e158 (44.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e173 (48.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e184 (51.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes (\u003cem\u003en\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;58)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2 (3.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e56 (96.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e58 (100)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c9\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e29 (50.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c10\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e29 (50.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c13\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e29 (50.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c14\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e29 (50.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.678\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c7\" namest=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.62\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c11\" namest=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.415\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c14\" namest=\"c12\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.828\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003ctfoot\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"14\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e-values by Pearson\u0026rsquo;s Chi Square or Fischer Exact Test; \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e significant at *\u0026lt;0.05, **\u0026lt;0.01\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tfoot\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab4\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 4\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eOpinions on the most appropriate utilisation of the revenue generated from the SSB tax across demographics and lifestyle factors\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"5\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFundamental obesity interventions\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eResearching cures for diseases exacerbated by excess sugar consumption\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRevenue for the government\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSubsidizing healthy foods\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSex\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23 (17.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e33 (24.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10 (7.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e67 (50.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e47 (16.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e58 (20.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e27 (9.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e150 (53.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.722\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAge Group\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;20 yr\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e26 (28.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20 (22.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10 (11.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e35 (38.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;20 yr\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e44 (13.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e71 (21.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e27 (8.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e182 (56.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.003**\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMalaysian\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e67 (16.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e90 (22.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e36 (9.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e206 (51.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3 (18.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1 (6.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1 (6.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11 (68.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNP\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eEthnicity\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eChinese\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e51 (17.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e65 (21.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e25 (8.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e159 (53.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNon-Chinese\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e19 (16.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e26 (22.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12 (10.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e58 (50.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.905\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHighest Education Level\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSecondary\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e19 (25.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e17 (22.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e10 (13.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e30 (39.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTertiary\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e51 (15.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e74 (21.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e27 (8.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e187 (55.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.037*\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDiabetes History\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e68 (17.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e88 (22.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e35 (8.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e209 (52.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes/Don't know\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2 (13.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3 (20.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2 (13.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8 (53.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNP\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCurrent Tobacco Smoking\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo/Never\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e68 (16.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e90 (22.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e34 (8.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e212 (52.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2 (18.2)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1 (9.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3 (27.3)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5 (45.5)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNP\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCurrent Vaping\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo/Never\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e67 (17.0)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e88 (22.4)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e34 (8.7)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e204 (51.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3 (13.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3 (13.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3 (13.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e13 (59.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNP\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCurrent Alcohol Drinking\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e47 (19.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e55 (22.9)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e21 (8.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e117 (48.8)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e23 (13.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e36 (20.6)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e16 (9.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e100 (57.1)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colspan=\"4\" nameend=\"c5\" namest=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.248\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003ctfoot\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"5\"\u003eNumbers are frequency (percentages out of the total in the same row)\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"5\"\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e-values by Pearson\u0026rsquo;s Chi Square \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e significant at *\u0026lt;0.05, **\u0026lt;0.01\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"5\"\u003eNP: Pearson\u0026rsquo;s Chi-Square test not performed due to cell(s) having frequency of \u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;5.\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tfoot\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec11\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003e3.4 Opinions on Utilisation of SSB Tax Revenue\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eParticipants were asked to indicate their preferred use of revenue generated from the sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) tax. The most commonly selected option across the entire sample was subsidizing healthy foods, chosen by over half of both males (50.4%) and females (53.2%) respondents. A smaller proportion supported allocating funds to researching cures for sugar-related diseases (males: 24.8%, females: 20.6%) or fundamental obesity interventions (males: 17.3%, females: 16.7%). Only a minority favoured revenue for government use (males: 7.5%, females: 9.6%), and no significant sex-based differences were observed (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.722). Age group was significantly associated with preferences (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.003). Participants aged\u0026thinsp;\u0026ge;\u0026thinsp;20 years were more likely to support subsidizing healthy foods (56.2%) than those\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;20 (38.5%), while younger respondents showed greater support for using revenue in obesity interventions (28.6% \u003cem\u003evs\u003c/em\u003e. 13.6%). Educational level was also significantly associated with revenue preferences (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.037), with those holding tertiary qualifications more likely to support healthy food subsidies (55.2%) compared to those with only secondary education (39.5%). No significant differences were found across sex, ethnicity, nationality, diabetes status, smoking, vaping, or alcohol use (all \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0.05), although non-Malaysians showed a relatively higher preference for healthy food subsidies (68.8%).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"4 Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis cross-sectional study assessed the KAPs related to SSB consumption and attitudes toward SSB taxation among university students and staff in Malaysia. The findings reveal several important patterns that offer insight into current perceptions and behaviours surrounding SSBs in an urban Malaysian educational setting.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eA striking observation was that the overwhelming majority of respondents demonstrated high knowledge about SSBs and their health implications. This suggests that general awareness regarding the negative health outcomes of excessive sugar intake\u0026mdash;such as weight gain, dental caries, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease\u0026mdash;is relatively widespread among this population. These findings are consistent with prior studies in Malaysia that have reported a growing public understanding of the health risks associated with added sugar consumption [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR19 CR20 CR21 CR22\" citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e]. The high education level of the study population\u0026mdash;most of whom had attained or were pursuing tertiary qualifications\u0026mdash;may partly explain this finding, as educational attainment has been positively associated with nutrition knowledge [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e27\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHowever, the data also highlight a key limitation of knowledge-driven health models: while knowledge was positively correlated with favourable attitudes, it was negatively associated with healthy SSB consumption practices. This knowledge-practice disconnect is well-documented in health behaviour literature and is often explained by the Health Belief Model and Theory of Planned Behaviour, which emphasize the role of perceived behavioural control, environmental cues, social norms, and personal motivations in driving health-related behaviours [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR28\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e28\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR29\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e29\u003c/span\u003e]. Young adults may possess the knowledge required to make healthier choices, but may not act on it due to competing factors such as taste preferences, peer influence, convenience, affordability, or lack of appealing alternatives [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR30\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e30\u003c/span\u003e]. For instance, many SSBs are heavily marketed and priced competitively, while healthier options such as unsweetened beverages are often limited in availability or cost more, particularly in campus environments [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe finding that fewer than half of the participants demonstrated good SSB-related practices despite high knowledge and attitude scores underscores the need for more comprehensive interventions. Environmental and policy-level strategies\u0026mdash;such as restrictions on the sale of sugary drinks, promotion of healthier beverages in campus cafeterias, and improved labelling\u0026mdash;could support behaviour change. Indeed, a \u0026ldquo;Less Salt, Oil, Sugar (SOS)\u0026rdquo; executive order and campaign aiming at reducing the levels of salt, oil, and sugar in foods sold on campus at Sunway University and Sunway College has been launched in August 2024, as outlined in our protocol paper [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e26\u003c/span\u003e]. Educational campaigns should also shift from simply raising awareness to reshaping norms and facilitating practical behaviour change, possibly through nudging techniques or structured behavioural interventions [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e31\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe observed support for sugar taxation among just over half of the respondents is encouraging, as public acceptance is often a key determinant of policy success. Support for such fiscal measures has been shown to be higher when individuals perceive a direct link between the tax and public health benefit, especially if the revenue is reinvested in health promotion or subsidies for healthier food options [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR32\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e32\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR33\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e33\u003c/span\u003e]. Our finding that participants with healthier SSB practices were also more likely to support sugar taxation aligns with earlier work suggesting that those who are already health-conscious may be more inclined to endorse regulatory interventions [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR34\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e34\u003c/span\u003e]. Interestingly, tax attitudes were significantly associated with sex and ethnicity, with males and non-Chinese participants showing greater support. These differences may reflect variations in health priorities, cultural perceptions of sugar, or differential exposure to chronic disease burdens within subgroups. This highlights the importance of culturally sensitive messaging when advocating for sugar tax policies.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn this study, non-drinkers were significantly more likely to have high knowledge scores regarding SSBs, with non-drinkers having over four times the odds of higher knowledge compared to drinkers. Similarly, non-vapers were significantly more likely to report healthier SSB consumption practices, with nearly three times the odds of favourable behaviour compared to vapers. These findings reinforce the clustering of health-conscious behaviours, where individuals who avoid one risk behaviour\u0026mdash;such as alcohol use or vaping\u0026mdash;are also more likely to engage in other positive health actions, such as limiting SSB intake. This behavioural pattern is consistent with prior studies suggesting that lifestyle choices often reflect broader orientations toward health or risk, influenced by self-regulation, health literacy, and social norms [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR36\" citationid=\"CR35\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e35\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR37\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e37\u003c/span\u003e]. These insights underscore the need for integrated interventions that address multiple health behaviours simultaneously rather than in isolation.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAn unexpected finding in this study was that healthier SSB-related practices were significantly associated with not eating on campus. This contrasts with initial assumptions that campus dining might promote healthier dietary behaviours, possibly due to institutional nutrition policies or exposure to health campaigns. However, the association suggests that food and beverage environments within campus settings may, in fact, encourage the consumption of SSBs. This is supported by local observations that many campus cafeterias and vending machines offer easy access to sweetened drinks, often at lower prices than healthier alternatives like bottled water or unsweetened beverages [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e]. Students and staff who eat off campus may have more diverse food choices or greater agency in selecting healthier options, particularly if they prepare their own meals or frequent establishments with more health-conscious offerings. These findings are consistent with research emphasizing the role of the food environment in shaping consumption patterns, where availability, affordability, and marketing strongly influence behaviour [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e]. This result underscores the need for Malaysian universities and colleges to audit and improve their on-campus food environments. Measures could include limiting the availability of sugary drinks, providing healthier beverage options, clear labelling of sugar content, and promoting water consumption. Such structural interventions may be critical in closing the knowledge-practice gap observed among university populations.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe finding that a third of participants were unsure whether beverages sold on campus were too sweet points to a lack of awareness or engagement with the sugar content of available beverages. This may reflect the absence of clear labelling, nutritional transparency, or limited discourse around sugar in institutional settings. Such uncertainty suggests an opportunity for targeted interventions, such as front-of-package sugar content labelling or \u0026ldquo;traffic light\u0026rdquo; systems that visually cue consumers to the sugar content of drinks [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR38\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e38\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFinally, the findings related to the public\u0026rsquo;s opinion on the utilization of sugar tax revenue provide critical insights into how fiscal health policies may gain broader support. A clear preference was observed for allocating tax revenue toward subsidizing healthy foods, suggesting a public inclination toward positive, supportive health measures rather than punitive ones. This aligns with global evidence indicating that public acceptability of sugar taxes improves when the revenue is transparently earmarked for health-related purposes such as nutrition education, subsidies for fruits and vegetables, or community health programs [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR32\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e32\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR33\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e33\u003c/span\u003e]. Age and education level emerged as significant factors shaping these preferences. Younger individuals (\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;20 years) were more likely to endorse funding for obesity interventions, possibly reflecting a greater concern with weight and appearance or earlier exposure to school-based obesity messaging. In contrast, older participants favoured subsidies for healthy foods, indicating a more systemic, preventive approach to health promotion. Similarly, those with tertiary education may better understand the broader public health benefits of food subsidies, including increased accessibility and affordability of healthier alternatives, especially for lower-income groups. These patterns reinforce the importance of tailoring public health messaging according to demographic segments to ensure effective communication and policy acceptance [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e]. The lack of significant associations with sex, ethnicity, and lifestyle behaviours such as smoking and alcohol use may indicate a relatively unified perception of the most acceptable use of SSB tax revenue. However, the higher preference for subsidies among non-Malaysians, though not statistically significant, points to a potentially greater receptivity to structural interventions among this group, possibly due to cultural or national policy exposure differences.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study has several limitations. First, its cross-sectional design precludes causal interpretations. Second, the reliance on self-reported measures may introduce recall and social desirability biases. Third, while the sample was diverse in sex, age, and ethnicity, it was drawn from a single institution, limiting the generalizability of findings. Future research should involve multiple universities and include a broader range of socioeconomic backgrounds to provide more nationally representative insights. Moreover, qualitative studies could explore the deeper psychosocial and cultural factors that influence SSB consumption and taxation attitudes in the Malaysian context.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"5 Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eIn conclusion, this study reveals high levels of knowledge and positive attitudes toward reducing SSB intake and implementing sugar taxes among university students and staff, but these are not always reflected in practice. The persistence of the knowledge-practice gap and the moderate support for taxation underscore the need for multi-level strategies that combine education with policy, environmental change, and behaviourally informed design. As Malaysia continues to combat rising rates of non-communicable diseases, such efforts are essential for shifting dietary norms and promoting long-term health across generations.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgements\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors would like to thank all participants for participating in this study. We also would like to acknowledge Prof. Sibrandes Poppema, Ms. Linda Tan, Ms. Chong Lee Lee, the Facilities Department, the Branding Department, and the food vendors of Sunway Education Group for their efforts in supporting this study and the reduction of salt, sugar, and oil in the food sold on campus.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor contributions\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eConceptualization: YHS and YCC; Methodology: YHS and YCC; Data collection: KG, WXC, KHL, JYN, JYY, and MHC; Formal analysis: KG and YHS; Writing - original draft preparation: KG and YHS; Writing - review and editing: KG, YHS, and YCC; Supervision: YHS, TPL and YCC. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis work is supported by the Sunway University Research Accelerator Grant Scheme (RAGS) No: GRTIN-RAG-DMS-16-2024 and the Malaysian Society of Hypertension Research Grant No.: MSH 2024/01. The funding bodies played no role in the design of the study and collection, analysis, and interpretation of data and in writing the manuscript.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eData availability\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe datasets used and analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable requests.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthical approval\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEthical approval was obtained from Sunway University Research Ethics Committee (SUREC) with the approval number SUREC 2024/029 before conducting the study.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConsent to participate\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWritten informed consent was obtained from all participants before conducting this study.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConflict of interest\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe authors declare no competing interests.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eMalik VS, Hu FB. 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Unraveling the Sugar Rush: A Cross-sectional Study of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Related to Sugar- Sweetened Beverages Consumption among Malaysian Young Adults. MJMHS. 2024;20:152\u0026ndash;60.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eTeng NIMF, Juliana N, Izlin NL, Semaon NZ. Knowledge, Attitude and Practices of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages: A Cross-Sectional Study among Adolescents in Selangor, Malaysia. Nutrients. 2020;12:3617.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eAlothmani NM, Almoraie NM. Understanding the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Concerning Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and Beverage Taxation among Saudi University Students. Nutrients. 2023;15:4151.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eRivard C, Smith D, McCann SE, Hyland A. Taxing sugar-sweetened beverages: a survey of knowledge, attitudes and behaviours. Public Health Nutr. 2012;15:1355\u0026ndash;61.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eChia YC, Say Y-H, Cheng MH, Chung FFL, Lau TP, Ooi PB. 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San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass \u0026amp; Pfeiffer Imprints, Wiley; 2015.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eFernqvist F, Spendrup S, Tellstr\u0026ouml;m R. Understanding food choice: A systematic review of reviews. Heliyon. 2024;10:e32492.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eAdkisson RV. Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth and Happiness. The Social Science Journal. 2008;45:700\u0026ndash;1.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eDonaldson EA, Cohen JE, Rutkow L, Villanti AC, Kanarek NF, Barry CL. Public support for a sugar-sweetened beverage tax and pro-tax messages in a Mid-Atlantic US state. Public Health Nutr. 2015;18:2263\u0026ndash;73.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eGollust SE, Barry CL, Niederdeppe J. Americans\u0026rsquo; opinions about policies to reduce consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. Preventive Medicine. 2014;63:52\u0026ndash;7.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eSarda B, Debras C, Chazelas E, P\u0026eacute;neau S, Le Bodo Y, Hercberg S, et al. Public perception of the tax on sweetened beverages in France. Public Health Nutr. 2022;25:3240\u0026ndash;51.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eDunton GF, Huh J, Leventhal AM, Riggs N, Hedeker D, Spruijt-Metz D, et al. Momentary assessment of affect, physical feeling states, and physical activity in children. Health Psychology. 2014;33:255\u0026ndash;63.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eZhu H, Zhou H, Qin Q, Zhang W. Association between Smoking and Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption, Tooth Brushing among Adolescents in China. Children (Basel). 2022;9:1008.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eLuszczynska A, Scholz U, Schwarzer R. The General Self-Efficacy Scale: Multicultural Validation Studies. The Journal of Psychology. 2005;139:439\u0026ndash;57.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eScapin T, Fernandes AC, Curioni CC, Pettigrew S, Neal B, Coyle DH, et al. Influence of sugar label formats on consumer understanding and amount of sugar in food choices: a systematic review and meta-analyses. Nutrition Reviews. 2021;79:788\u0026ndash;801.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"discover-public-health","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"Learn more about [Discover Public Health](https://link.springer.com/journal/12982)","snPcode":"12982","submissionUrl":"https://submission.springernature.com/new-submission/12982/3","title":"Discover Public Health","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Discover Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Sugar-sweetened beverages, Knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP), Sugar taxation, University students, Malaysia","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6980853/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6980853/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBackground\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExcessive intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) is linked to obesity, diabetes, and non-communicable diseases. Despite growing awareness, consumption remains high in Malaysia. Public perception and behavioural responses to sugar taxation remain underexplored, particularly in educational settings.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eObjective\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of SSB consumption and attitudes toward sugar taxation among university students and staff of Sunway University/Sunway College, Malaysia.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMethods\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA cross-sectional survey was conducted among 415 participants (median age: 21 ± 5 years; 68% females) using validated questionnaires assessing SSB-related knowledge, attitudes, practices, and sugar tax attitudes.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eResults\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost participants had high knowledge (97.1%) and positive attitudes (97.8%) toward SSBs, but only 47.5% practiced healthy consumption. Knowledge was positively correlated with SSB attitude (\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e = 0.265, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e \u0026lt; 0.001) and sugar tax attitude (\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e = 0.110, \u003cem\u003ep \u003c/em\u003e= 0.025), but negatively with practice (\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e = –0.191, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e \u0026lt; 0.001). Positive sugar tax attitude was associated with male sex (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e = 0.024) and non-Chinese ethnicity (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e = 0.049). Healthier practices were associated with not eating on campus (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e = 0.004) and not vaping (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e = 0.031). Participants preferred tax revenue to subsidize healthy foods (51.6%), with significant association with age ≥20 yr (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e = 0.003) and tertiary education attainment (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e= 0.037).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConclusion\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough participants demonstrated high knowledge and favourable attitudes toward SSB reduction and sugar taxation, healthy consumption practices were suboptimal. The findings highlight the need for integrated strategies that not only educate but also create supportive food environments and policy structures.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Intake and Attitudes on Sugar Taxation: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Students and Staff of a Malaysian University/College","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-06-30 05:32:21","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-6980853/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2025-11-11T05:00:20+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-09-24T21:15:01+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-09-22T11:43:05+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"284745931585029268829075773528416818602","date":"2025-09-20T06:57:36+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"338898743049034304367379864026112288422","date":"2025-09-15T02:14:16+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"95827717976888885713918814823883538941","date":"2025-09-14T01:52:46+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-09-09T03:16:29+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2025-09-08T03:57:37+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"150329090963217377671043614049834806021","date":"2025-08-29T05:17:33+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"28787863280600703359921118226813971859","date":"2025-08-06T00:00:32+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-08-05T12:26:29+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-06-27T02:19:44+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-06-27T02:18:29+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Discover Public Health","date":"2025-06-26T07:40:37+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"discover-public-health","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"Learn more about [Discover Public Health](https://link.springer.com/journal/12982)","snPcode":"12982","submissionUrl":"https://submission.springernature.com/new-submission/12982/3","title":"Discover Public Health","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Discover Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"1d28107b-81e0-46a1-b6ef-ed6d421b4b20","owner":[],"postedDate":"June 30th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-01-05T15:59:51+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-6980853","link":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-01320-z","journal":{"identity":"discover-public-health","isVorOnly":false,"title":"Discover Public Health"},"publishedOn":"2026-01-02 15:57:31","publishedOnDateReadable":"January 2nd, 2026"},"versionCreatedAt":"2025-06-30 05:32:21","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1186/s12982-025-01320-z","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-01320-z","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-6980853","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-6980853","identity":"rs-6980853","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}