Relationship Between Obesity Awareness and Nutrition Attitude: A Sectional Study Among Secondary School Students

Abstract

This study was aimed to identify the relationship between obesity awareness and nutrition attitudes among secondary school students. Methods. This descriptive research was conducted between April and June 2022 and involved 625 secondary school students of a province in Eastern Turkey. The data were collected using a question form consisting of a questionnaire, the Obesity Awareness Scale (OAS), and the Attitude Scale for Healthy Nutrition (ASHN). One-way ANOVA, independent sample t-test, Pearson correlation, and regression analysis were used to interpret the data. Results. There was a balanced distribution of descriptive characteristics among the study population. In this study, age and grade level were effective on the ASHN and OAS. Additionally, there were significant differences in the OAS score only by gender; however, the ASHN value significantly depended on weight assessment status, regular eating, and body mass index variables. Although there was a considerable deviation observed within the assessed sample regarding unhealthy behaviors, average time spent per day on the computer, phone, or television was approximately one hour. Although the study population had a positive attitude towards healthy eating and a high awareness of obesity, it was seen that students consumed junk food twice per day and fast food once a week on average. A regression analysis revealed a significant negative impact of time spent per day on the phone and junk food consumption on the ASHN; however, regular eating and OAS had positive effects. Conclusions. As students’ attitudes towards healthy nutrition increased, their levels of obesity awareness increased as well. Unhealthy lifestyle factors such as phone usage and junk food intake negatively affected healthy eating attitudes.