Teenagers’ attitude towards obesity and obese peer

Abstract

Introduction We present the results of a survey conducted from May to November 2020 among teenagers in the Silesian Province, Poland. The aim of the study was to evaluate the approach of teenagers to their physical activity and the problem of obesity. Material and methods The survey was conducted in randomly selected schools and among patients of selected medical facilities using electronic and paper versions of the questionnaire. The study included 527 respondents: 261 aged 11–14 (49.5%) and 266 aged 15–18 (50.5%). Results The recommended amount of physical activity was reported by 31.8% of children aged 11–14 and by 15.4% of children aged 15–18. Among the respondents 20% admitted to remaining indifferent to others being bullied for excess body weight. Among teenagers aged 11–18, 53% were not able to provide a definition of obesity and 36.6% could not name any complications of the condition. 14% of the respondents expressed negative associations with obese individuals. In the study group, 26.2% of individuals showed no interest in the problem of obesity. Conclusions There is an urgent need to promote among teenagers: knowledge on the determinants and consequences of obesity, respect towards everybody regardless of their weight, physical activity as the fundamental method of fighting obesity.

Keywords

• teenager
• obesity
• perception of obesity
• physical activity
• attitude towards obese peers