Obesity Awareness and Sensitization in Schools for Improving Weight Control and Reducing Obesity Stigma in Students: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Introduction: The prevalence of obesity is increasing rapidly in the world, including India. Since obesity is a risk factor for many diseases, the prevalence of obesity-related diseases is also increasing, resulting in decreased productivity and increased disease-related expenses, causing economic loss at the individual, family, and national levels. Government funds that could be utilized for national growth are channeled into the treatment of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

The prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity has also increased in recent years. Overweight or obese children often grow up to become overweight or obese adults. While the treatment of childhood obesity is gaining importance, the general population is still unaware of the seriousness of this condition. The government of India has been promoting a healthy diet and yoga to prevent or delay the onset of NCDs.

Methods: In this pilot study, we reached out directly to the affected persons: the children. We focused on students of class eight who have studied nutrition in school and are young enough to develop a lifelong healthy lifestyle to regulate body weight. Our obesity awareness and sensitization program (OASP) included a questionnaire assessing students’ awareness about healthy body weight. This was followed by three lectures on the causes and consequences of obesity and difficulty in achieving weight loss. Since overweight or obese children may experience weight-related bias, teasing, and bullying in schools, the OASP also addressed obesity bias. Pre- and post-tests were conducted to assess explicit obesity bias before and after the OASP. Data obtained from 389 students was used. The pre- and post-test results were compared using Student's t-test.

Results: About 27.8% of students were overweight or obese. Most participants of this study were not aware of healthy body weight, diseases associated with obesity, and the difficulty of losing weight. Many students expressed explicit bias against obesity. The OASP increased the students’ knowledge about ideal weight, healthy diet, and the importance of lifestyle changes. Explicit obesity bias showed a significant decrease after the program.

Conclusion: This study showed that most students of class eight who participated in this study were not aware of the importance of healthy body weight, obesity-related diseases, healthy lifestyles for long-term regulation of healthy body weight, and the negative consequences of obesity bias. The OASP addressed all these issues and was found successful.