Awareness on childhood obesity among parents in Puncak Alam residential area / Nur Fatihah Nasaruddin

Obesity is an abnormal state, where excess body fats are accumulated in the body. Obesity lead to negative effects on health issues such as appearance and psychology of the person. The rising cases of obesity among childhood ages in all over the country over the past thirty years shows that childhood obesity is a globally serious issue. The study assessed the awareness and knowledge of parents on childhood obesity, the most common factors of childhood obesity and the eating habit of children in Puncak Alam residential area. A cross-sectional study has been conducted to 401 samples of parents in Puncak Alam residential area. The response rate was 94.4 %. Data were analyzed by using Microsoft Excel and Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) which include Pearson Chi-Square test and frequency analysis. Distribution of questionnaire were highest in tertiary level of education of mother (68.5 %) and father (61.5 %) compared to primary level of education of mother (7.0 %) and father (11.2 %). Majority of the respondents (53.4 %) were highly concerned about their children's weight. Respondents with tertiary level of education tend to be more concerned compared to primary and secondary level of education. Highest percentage of respondents knows that both nutrition and physical activity was important (56.4 %). Most respondents know the factors contributing the childhood obesity as they were disagree to let the selection of food by their children and eating snacks habit. 52.4 % of children get exercise less than 2 times in a week and 15 % of children do not exercise at all. Mostly children go to school by car. Eating habits of children identified were unhealthy diet, skipping breakfast, watch TV during meals and wrong choice of food. Most parents have an awareness and knowledge on childhood obesity. However, respondents need to monitor their children's lifestyle because most of the children were having less physical activity and unhealthy eating habits.