TITLE:
Prevalence of Obesity and Knowledge of Health Risk Associated with Obesity among Female Adolescents in Jordan
AUTHORS:
Lubna Mohammed Thaher, Jafar Alasad, Mahmoud Maharmeh, Ibrahim Salami
KEYWORDS:
Obesity, Overweight, Female Adolescents, Jordan
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Nursing,
Vol.8 No.1,
January
26,
2018
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Overweight and obesity is major health challenge worldwide. Purpose:
The purpose of the study was to estimate the prevalence of overweight and
obesity and assess knowledge on the health risks associated with obesity among
female adolescents in the Jordanian capital Amman. Method: A
cross-sectional survey of 782 female adolescents was conducted using random
sampling technique. Height and weight were measured and body mass index for age
was used to determine overweight and obesity depending on International Obesity
Task Force standers. Obesity risk knowledge-10 scale was used to assess
knowledge level among female adolescents. Results: The prevalence of overweight
and obesity among female adolescents were 34.9% and 12.5% respectively.
Knowledge about health risk associated with obesity among female adolescents
was low. Ninety five percent of participant had low to moderate knowledge about
health risk associated with obesity. Conclusions: Prevalence of
overweight and obesity among Jordanian female adolescents was high. Overweight
and obesity is a serious public health problem among female adolescents in
Jordan.