De Silva I.1, Silva S.N.2
1International Institute of Health Sciences, Physiotherapy, Welisara, Sri Lanka, 2International Institute of Health Sciences, Academic, Welisara, Sri Lanka
Background: Childhood obesity has become a significant healthcare concern in the world with rates tripling within the last decade. The increasing prevalence of childhood obesity puts these children at risk for several diseases and other associated health problems. Several health implications that could result from childhood obesity includes the increased risk of adult obesity, corresponding Non communicable diseases and complications. This study posed the question of the effectiveness of an educational intervention on parents' knowledge of childhood obesity and related risk factors.
Purpose: To assess the level of awareness on childhood obesity and its risk factors among urban parents in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Methods: Descriptive cross sectional quantitative study was done by using self-administrated questionnaire on 200 conveniently selected urban parents from Colombo. Parents who have disabled children, those who have more than 5 children and parents who have children above thirteen years of age were excluded.
Results: Majority of the respondents were between 25-35 years. 86% of the parents knew their childs weight. 34.5% measured it when they went for vaccination and 16% didnt get it measured even then. Out of the 86% who knew the weight, 37.5% didnt get it recorded. 65.5% of the parents thought that their childs weight was ideal. Only 5.5% thought that it was significantly high. 80% didnt want their children to be visibly obese, but out of the rest 20.5% thought that its healthy when the children were visibly obese. Significant amount of them thought the childs weight was ideal after comparing (67.5%) it with some one else. 31.5% tend to give vitamins if their children were not visibly obese enough. 12% of the children didnt engage in any physical activity and 19.5% of the parents encouraged them against physical activities fearing they would negatively influence their studies (67.5%). 87% were aware the issues of obesity and 85% thought that they knew what obesity was. 92.5% wanted to try and reduce if their childs weight if the child ever became obese. 51.5% believed that children need to be fat in general to stay healthy.
Conclusion(s): The awareness on childhood obesity was low and the social perceptions seemed to promote childhood obesity.
Implications: This study implies the need for education programs that emphasizes the problem of childhood obesity, its consequences and the need for continuous anthropometric measurements in children. The importance of monitoring and giving spontaneous advice should be made a regular practice at the primary care level.
Funding acknowledgements: Self funding research and the authors would like to acknowledge the assistance from International Institute of Health Sciences, Sri Lanka
Topic: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) & risk factors
Ethics approval: Bioinquirer ethics review committee, Sri Lanka.
All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.
