Sema Sal Altan* and Murat Bekatas
Objective: This study aimed to determine the factors affecting attitude towards children with obesity in adolescents.
Methods: The study used a descriptive, correlational and cross-sectional design. The sample of the study consisted of a total of 392 adolescents enrolled in three different high schools, which are located in the western part of Turkey and were selected by the simple random sampling method. The data were collected using a socio-demographic data collection form, the "Obesity awareness scale for children" and the "Attitudes towards children with obesity scale". Percentage calculations, mean values and regression analyses were used to evaluate the data.
Results: The total score of the attitudes towards children with obesity scale was found to be 63.71 ± 11.97. Being female explained 9.6% of the rejection attitude towards children with obesity. Being female and the status of BMI explained 8.2% of the acceptance attitude towards children with obesity. Body satisfaction and being female explained 11.8% of the attitude towards children with obesity.
Conclusion: In adolescents, being female, body dissatisfaction and increasing BMI levels were found to negatively affect attitudes towards children with obesity. In addition, the obesity awareness level was determined to not affect attitudes towards children with obesity significantly.
Published Date: 2024-07-19; Received Date: 2020-06-05
