Physical activity and diet among adolescents of Kathmandu, Nepal: Knowledge and attitudes

Authors

  • J Pahlm Medical student, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping
  • J Svensson Medical student, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping
  • S K Joshi Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Kathmandu Medical College, Kathmandu
  • K Swahnberg Associate Professor, Department of Health and Caring Sciences, Linnaeus University, Kalmar

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/jkmc.v2i2.10623

Keywords:

Exercise/activity, Focus groups, Food, Health behaviour, Teenagers/adolescents, South Asia

Abstract

Background: Non-communicable diseases are becoming more prevalent in Nepal and many risk factors attributing to these diseases are behaviour-related and therefore preventable.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the attitudes among students of grade eight and nine in Kathmandu toward physical activity and diet and their knowledge about how it affects their health.

Methods: We conducted four focus groups that included 24 students to explore knowledge and attitudes toward physical activity among them. Focus groups were recorded and transcribed verbatim later. Method described by K. Malterud, inspired by Giorgi’s phenomenological method was used to analyze the transcribed material.

Results: Participants considered physical activity to be benefi cial for health in many ways. They also believed that healthy food is important to avoid diseases. Several participants mentioned that a balanced lifestyle is essential for a healthy life.

Conclusion: Though the students saw the importance of physical activity and a healthy diet to avoid diseases and stay healthy, most of them did not connect a lack of physical activity and unhealthy diet to possible noncommunicable diseases in the future.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jkmc.v2i2.10623

Journal of Kathmandu Medical College, Vol. 2, No. 2, Issue 4, Apr.-Jun., 2013, Page: 51-58

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
Abstract
1324
PDF
1613

Author Biography

J Pahlm, Medical student, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping

 

Downloads

Published

2014-06-18

How to Cite

Pahlm, J., Svensson, J., Joshi, S. K., & Swahnberg, K. (2014). Physical activity and diet among adolescents of Kathmandu, Nepal: Knowledge and attitudes. Journal of Kathmandu Medical College, 2(2), 51–58. https://doi.org/10.3126/jkmc.v2i2.10623

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 2 (2013)

Section

Original Research Articles

License

Copyright © Journal of Kathmandu Medical College
The ideas and opinions expressed by authors or articles summarized, quoted, or published in full text in this journal represent only the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy of Journal of Kathmandu Medical College or the institute with which the author(s) is/are affiliated, unless so specified.

Authors convey all copyright ownership, including any and all rights incidental thereto, exclusively to JKMC, in the event that such work is published by JKMC. JKMC shall own the work, including 1) copyright; 2) the right to grant permission to republish the article in whole or in part, with or without fee; 3) the right to produce preprints or reprints and translate into languages other than English for sale or free distribution; and 4) the right to republish the work in a collection of articles in any other mechanical or electronic format.