Prevalence and Knowledge on Obesity Among School Going Adolescents of Kaski, Nepal

Authors

  • Apsara Pandey Lecturer, Maharajgunj Nursing Campus, Institute of Medicine, Tribhuwan University, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Sony Sapkota Register Nurse, Western Region Hospital, Kaski, Nepal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/jnps.v38i2.19917

Keywords:

Obesity, Adolescents, Prevalence, Knowledge

Abstract

Introduction: Childhood obesity has now been recognized as a global health problem because of its devastating consequences and prevalence at uncontrollable rate worldwide. The objective of this study was to determine prevalence of obesity and find out the knowledge on obesity among school going adolescents.

Material and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescents of two private schools of Kaski district. Altogether 120 adolescent students were selected using census method. Height and weight were measured with standard scale and BMI was calculated. Self-administered structured questionnaire was used to assess knowledge. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square test at 0.05 significance level was used to analyze data.

Results: The mean age of adolescents was 15.1 years and 50% of them were male. The prevalence of obesity among adolescents was 3.3%. Seventy five percent of the adolescents had knowledge regarding meaning of obesity and 59.2% had mentioned high calorie intake as a risk factor of obesity. Likewise, 52.5% adolescents stated Diabetes mellitus as consequence of obesity. Ninety eight percent mentioned regular exercise as a preventive measure of obesity. More than three fourth (78.3%) of the adolescents had inadequate knowledge regarding obesity. Male adolescents had significantly higher knowledge than female adolescents (p=0.00).

Conclusion: Even though very few adolescents had obesity, there were adolescents with overweight which were at more risk for getting obesity. Adolescents have inadequate knowledge regarding obesity.

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Published

2019-01-11

How to Cite

Pandey, A., & Sapkota, S. (2019). Prevalence and Knowledge on Obesity Among School Going Adolescents of Kaski, Nepal. Journal of Nepal Paediatric Society, 38(2), 63–68. https://doi.org/10.3126/jnps.v38i2.19917

Issue

Vol. 38 No. 2 (2018)

Section

Original Articles

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