ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Public Health
Sec. Children and Health
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1591300
This article is part of the Research TopicFrom Adolescence to Adulthood: The Role of Diet in Preventing Metabolic and Mental Health DisordersView all 6 articles
Parents of children and adolescents knowledge, attitude, and practice toward metabolically healthy obesity: A cross-sectional survey
Provisionally accepted
- 1Jiangsu province hospital, Nanjing, Liaoning Province, China
- 2First Clinical Medical College, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
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Introduction: Understanding parental knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) in children and adolescents is crucial. This study aimed to assess the KAP levels of parents concerning MHO and identify factors influencing these levels. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Jiangsu Provincial People’s Hospital (June 28, 2023 – August 3, 2023). 534 valid questionnaires were collected. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, univariable/multivariable regression, and Spearman correlation to determine KAP levels and influencing factors. Cronbach’s α was 0.890. Results: Median scores were 11 (IQR: 7–13; maximum 18) for knowledge, 32 (IQR: 30–35; maximum 40) for attitude, and 32 (IQR: 27–35; maximum 40) for practice. Significant positive correlations were found between knowledge & attitude (r=0.407, P<0.001), knowledge & practice (r=0.357, P<0.001), and attitude & practice (r=0.456, P<0.001). Non-medical occupations (OR=0.658, P=0.037) and income 8000-12,000 (OR=2.796, P=0.001) were linked to knowledge. Income 5000-8000 (OR=2.864, P=0.001) and 8000-12,000 (OR=2.392, P=0.013) related to attitude, while income 8000-12,000 (OR=2.798, P=0.001) and >12,000 (OR=2.340, P=0.013) related to practice. Conclusion: Parents showed moderate knowledge but good attitudes/practices toward MHO. KAP dimensions were positively correlated. Socioeconomic status, particularly income, significantly associated with knowledge/practice.
Keywords: Children, adolescents, Obesity, Metabolically, Obesity, Health Knowledge, Attitude, Practice, Cross-Sectional Studies
Received: 11 Mar 2025; Accepted: 07 Oct 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Zhong, Feng, Zhang, Lu, Yuan, Li, Tian and Hu. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Youfang Hu, 13182823903@126.com
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