Socioeconomic status, perceptions and obesity among adolescents in Jordan.

Autor: Okour AM; Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan., Saadeh RA; Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan., Hijazi MH; Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan., Khalaileh HEA; Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan., Alfaqih MA; Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: The Pan African medical journal [Pan Afr Med J] 2019 Nov 14; Vol. 34, pp. 148. Date of Electronic Publication: 2019 Nov 14 (Print Publication: 2019).
DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2019.34.148.19641
Abstrakt: 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.
Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
(© Abdulhakeem Mahmoud Okour et al.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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