Attitude and Barriers to the Management of Childhood and Adolescent Obesity

Abstract

Background: Attitude and barriers to the management of childhood and adolescent obesity were assessed.

Methodology: This study was conducted in 3 places. This includes: University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku-Ozalla, Ogbete Main Market Enugu and Ituku village all in Enugu state. The primary data were collected from members of  the respondents through the use of structured questionnaires administered personally by the researchers. A sample of 200 respondents was chosen which included civil servants traders, farmers, housewives, students, and contract workers. The data analysis was performed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 16. Frequency distributions were run on all variables and were completed separately for each occupational group.

Result: shows that amongst the respondents, 22% believed that childhood and adolescent obesity increases the risk of obesity in adulthood, 9.5% believed that it is the leading cause of pediatrics hypertension, 15% said that it is associated with type II diabetes in adulthood, 9.5% believed that it increases the risk of coronary heart disease, 2% said that it increases the stress of weight bearing joints, 25% believed that it lowers self esteem, and affects the relationships with peers while 7% believed that childhood and adolescent obesity has negative impact on child health. Also, it was found that amongst the accepted methods used in the management of childhood and adolescent obesity, 53% of the respondents accepted dietary method, 39.5% accepted physical activity, 6.5% accepted pharmacological therapy while 1% accepted bariatric surgery. Among the accepted methods, it shows that dietary method is more likely accepted, followed by physical activity (39.5%), Pharmacological therapy (13%) and bariatric surgery (2%) respectively. Significant differences were found among the accepted methods (P < 0.05). Amongst the unaccepted methods bariatric surgery was more likely not be accepted, followed by pharmacological therapy, physical activity and dietary management respectively and the acceptance differs significantly (P < 0.05).

Keywords: Attitude, Barriers, Management, Childhood, Adolescent, Obesity