Attitudes Toward Physical Activity According to Weight Status Among Schoolchildren in Sousse, Tunisia

Overview

Journal Health Serv Res Manag Epidemiol

Publisher Sage Publications

Specialty Public Health

Date 2017 May 3

PMID 28462262

Authors

Jihene Maatoug

Imed Harrabi

Jihene Sahli

Olfa Ezzi

Dhekra Chebil

Mariem Gaddour

Nesrine Saadi

Hassen Ghannem

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Aim: To investigate differences in attitude toward physical activity in normal-weight, overweight, and obese adolescents.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey carried out in 2009/2010. It concerned randomly selected schoolchildren of colleges of Sousse in seventh and ninth grade. The sample was composed of 4003 schoolchildren. A questionnaire was used to evaluate habits and perception of physical activity, and we took anthropometric measurements of height and weight.

Results: Among schoolchildren who performed a recommended level of physical activity, there was no significant difference in perceptions according to weight status. However, among those who did not practice physical activity, obese participants had significantly less positive perception. Overweight and obesity significantly increase the risk of negative perception of physical activity practice among participants who do not do the recommended level of physical activity. However, this association becomes non significant among those who practice recommended level of physical activity. The same findings were observed after adjustment by age and sex.

Conclusion: Negative attitudes among inactive children may favor the development of a vicious circle perpetuating physical inactivity among normal-weight and overweight children.

References

PIERCE J, Wardle J . Cause and effect beliefs and self-esteem of overweight children. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 1997; 38(6):645-50. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.1997.tb01691.x. View

Cole T, Bellizzi M, Flegal K, Dietz W . Establishing a standard definition for child overweight and obesity worldwide: international survey. BMJ. 2000; 320(7244):1240-3. PMC: 27365. DOI: 10.1136/bmj.320.7244.1240. View

Jolliffe D . Extent of overweight among US children and adolescents from 1971 to 2000. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2003; 28(1):4-9. DOI: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0802421. View

Rennie K, Livingstone M, Wells J, McGloin A, Coward W, Prentice A . Association of physical activity with body-composition indexes in children aged 6-8 y at varied risk of obesity. Am J Clin Nutr. 2005; 82(1):13-20. DOI: 10.1093/ajcn.82.1.13. View

Garaulet M, Martinez A, Victoria F, Perez-Llamas F, Ortega R, Zamora S . Difference in dietary intake and activity level between normal-weight and overweight or obese adolescents. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2000; 30(3):253-8. DOI: 10.1097/00005176-200003000-00008. View

Deforche B, De Bourdeaudhuij I, Tanghe A . Attitude toward physical activity in normal-weight, overweight and obese adolescents. J Adolesc Health. 2006; 38(5):560-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2005.01.015. View

Morano M, Colella D, Rutigliano I, Fiore P, Pettoello-Mantovani M, Campanozzi A . Changes in actual and perceived physical abilities in clinically obese children: a 9-month multi-component intervention study. PLoS One. 2012; 7(12):e50782. PMC: 3517373. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0050782. View

Tsiros M, Olds T, Buckley J, Grimshaw P, Brennan L, Walkley J . Health-related quality of life in obese children and adolescents. Int J Obes (Lond). 2009; 33(4):387-400. DOI: 10.1038/ijo.2009.42. View

Lobstein T, Frelut M . Prevalence of overweight among children in Europe. Obes Rev. 2003; 4(4):195-200. DOI: 10.1046/j.1467-789x.2003.00116.x. View

10.

Morano M, Colella D, Robazza C, Bortoli L, Capranica L . Physical self-perception and motor performance in normal-weight, overweight and obese children. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2010; 21(3):465-73. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2009.01068.x. View

11.

Romanella N, Wakat D, Loyd B, Kelly L . Physical activity and attitudes in lean and obese children and their mothers. Int J Obes. 1991; 15(6):407-14. View

12.

Franklin J, Denyer G, Steinbeck K, Caterson I, Hill A . Obesity and risk of low self-esteem: a statewide survey of Australian children. Pediatrics. 2006; 118(6):2481-7. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2006-0511. View

13.

Valerio G, Gallarato V, DAmico O, Sticco M, Tortorelli P, Zito E . Perceived difficulty with physical tasks, lifestyle, and physical performance in obese children. Biomed Res Int. 2014; 2014:735764. PMC: 4106089. DOI: 10.1155/2014/735764. View

14.

Lobstein T, Jackson-Leach R . Estimated burden of paediatric obesity and co-morbidities in Europe. Part 2. Numbers of children with indicators of obesity-related disease. Int J Pediatr Obes. 2007; 1(1):33-41. DOI: 10.1080/17477160600586689. View

15.

Huttunen N, Knip M, Paavilainen T . Physical activity and fitness in obese children. Int J Obes. 1986; 10(6):519-25. View