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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Public Health
Sec. Children and Health
Volume 12 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1475455

Understanding Childhood Obesity in Pakistan: Exploring the Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices of Mothers, and Influential Factors. A Cross-sectional Study

Provisionally accepted
Muhammad Hudaib Muhammad Hudaib 1Laraib Hussain Laraib Hussain 1Laiba Nazim Laiba Nazim 1Sumaira Mohi uddin Sumaira Mohi uddin 2Muhammad Usama Jamil Muhammad Usama Jamil 3Shireen Qassim Bham Shireen Qassim Bham 1Hurais Malik Hurais Malik 1Abdul Rehman Abdul Rehman 1Usaid Malik Usaid Malik 4. Manahil . Manahil 5Ahmad Umais Ahad Ahmad Umais Ahad 5Sanila Mughal Sanila Mughal 6Mohammed Mahmmoud Fadelallah Eljack Mohammed Mahmmoud Fadelallah Eljack 7*
  • 1 Fazaia Ruth Pfau Medical College, Karachi, Punjab, Pakistan
  • 2 Baqai Medical University, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
  • 3 Nishtar Medical College, Multan, Punjab, Pakistan
  • 4 CMH Multan Institute of Medical Sciences, Multan, Punjab, Pakistan
  • 5 Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan
  • 6 Dow Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Punjab, Pakistan
  • 7 University of Bakhtalruda, Ed Dueim, South Sudan

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Background: Childhood obesity is a significant public health issue with far-reaching implications. The World Health Organization reported that in 2020, around 38 million children under five were overweight or obese globally, and in 2016, 340 million children and adolescents aged 5-19 were affected. In Pakistan, the situation is alarming; 66.9% of schoolgoing children in Punjab were overweight, and 5.8% were obese in 2022. This study explores mothers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding childhood obesity in Pakistan and identifies factors contributing to this epidemic. Maternal perspectives are crucial as they significantly influence children's dietary habits, physical activity, and attitudes toward food and body image.

    Keywords: Childhood Obesity, knowledge, attitudes, Practices, Mothers, Public Health, Health Education, Pakistan

    Received: 03 Aug 2024; Accepted: 21 Oct 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Hudaib, Hussain, Nazim, Mohi uddin, Jamil, Bham, Malik, Rehman, Malik, Manahil, Umais Ahad, Mughal and Eljack. 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: Mohammed Mahmmoud Fadelallah Eljack, University of Bakhtalruda, Ed Dueim, South Sudan

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.