Socioeconomic Status, Perceptions and Obesity Among Adolescents in Jordan

Overview

Journal Pan Afr Med J

Date 2020 Feb 29

PMID 32110265

Citations 6

Authors

Abdulhakeem Mahmoud Okour

Rami Abdullah Saadeh

Manar Hisham Hijazi

Hana Eyyad Al Khalaileh

Mahmoud Ahmad Alfaqih

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: Prevalence of obesity among adolescents constitutes a serious public health problem. We aimed to investigate the association between socioeconomic factors and obesity perceptions, and prevalence of overweight and obesity among school adolescents.

Methods: A cross-sectional study that included students 12 to 17 years old participating from six schools that were randomly selected in Northern Jordan. Body mass index (BMI) measurements and interview questions were completed by trained researchers. A total of 701 were successfully involved in the analysis.

Results: Students involved were 53.6% males and 46.4% females. Students with normal BMI had a mean BMI of 21.45 (+1.76). Those who were obese, or overweight were 202 (28.8%) students and had a BMI of 29.1 (+4.05). Family monthly income, mother's education and working status among other socioeconomic status factors were significantly associated with children's overweight or obesity. Perceptions about obesity including meal choices, interest in self body weight, considering someone in family as obese and instructions at school were statistically significant as well.

Conclusion: Family factors, adolescents' pocket money and perceptions about obesity were significant predictors of obesity among adolescents in Jordan. Effective intervention strategies should be implemented in schools and other primary care settings to reduce the relatively high prevalence of adolescent's obesity observed in this study.

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