ECEESPE2025 ePoster Presentations Environmental Endocrinology (23 abstracts)
Parental perception and knowledge of childhood obesity: descriptive study in tunisia
Mariem Mejri 1 , Asma Marzouk 1 , Altaf Garbaa 1 , Rahma Thabti 1 , Leila Jallouli 1 , Ahlem Elkefi 1 , Farida Friha 1 & Asma Bouaziz 1
1Ben Arous Regional Hospital, Paediatric Department, Ben Arous, Tunisia
JOINT2421
Childhood obesity is experiencing a significant increase in developing countries, yet it is not consistently recognized as a pathological condition by parents. This study aims to assess the knowledge of Tunisian parents regarding the definition and risk factors of childhood obesity. A descriptive survey was conducted in December 2024 among 100 parents who visited the pediatric emergency department at the Regional Hospital of Ben Arous (Tunisia) with their children aged 5 to 15 years. The body mass index (BMI) of both children and their parents was evaluated using the World Health Organization (WHO) growth charts. The results revealed a prevalence of overweight and obesity in children of 13% and 2%, respectively. Among mothers, 62% were overweight or obese, with 19% having an overweight or obese child. Among fathers, 43% were overweight or obese, of whom 23% had an overweight or obese child. Alarmingly, 66% of parents did not recognize their child’s overweight or obese status. Additionally, 54% of overweight or obese children belonged to low to middle socioeconomic backgrounds, and 40% of fathers and 53% of mothers had a university-level education. The majority of parents (91%) considered childhood obesity as a condition requiring medical management. However, the definition of obesity varied: 58% of parents based it on body weight, 27% on BMI, and 15% on body fat percentage. The most frequently cited risk factors were poor dietary habits (90%) and physical inactivity (89%). Nevertheless, 58% of parents underestimated the impact of maternal obesity, and 63% minimized the influence of parental obesity on their child’s risk of developing obesity. This study highlights an incomplete perception of childhood obesity among Tunisian parents, underscoring the need for a targeted health education program to improve awareness of riskfactors and promote healthy lifestyle habits from an early age.
Volume 110
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Endocrine Abstracts
ISSN 1470-3947 (print) | ISSN 1479-6848 (online)
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