Knowledge Regarding Lifestyle Modification for Prevention of Obesity Among Adults in a Selected Urban Areas of Kanpur: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Obesity is a significant public health concern and a modifiable risk factor for a number of noncommunicable diseases. Obesity has becoming increasingly prevalent worldwide, with nearly 2.5 billion persons classed as overweight and 890 million obese by 2022.¹ In India, nationally representative data show a high prevalence of generalized and abdominal obesity, with metabolic noncommunicable diseases being more common in urban populations. Lifestyle factors such as bad eating habits, lack of physical activity, and sedentary behavior significantly increase the risk of obesity.³ Knowledge on healthy lifestyle changes is thus a crucial component of obesity prevention.
Objectives: To assess the knowledge regarding lifestyle modification for prevention of obesity among adults in a selected urban area of Kanpur and to determine the association between knowledge level and selected demographic variables.
Methods: A quantitative, non-experimental descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 60 adults residing in the selected urban area of MIG Block, Panki, Kanpur. Participants were selected using non-probability purposive sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire consisting of demographic characteristics and 30 multiple-choice questions assessing knowledge regarding lifestyle modification for obesity prevention. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize participant characteristics and knowledge levels. The association between the predefined categorical knowledge level and selected categorical demographic variables was assessed using Pearson’s chi-square test or exact tests, as appropriate, with statistical significance considered at a two-sided P < 0.05.
Results: The total knowledge score ranged from 11 to 27, with a mean score of 21.60 ± 3.78 and a median of 22.5 (IQR: 19–24); the Shapiro–Wilk test indicated a statistically significant departure from normality (W = 0.935, P = 0.003). Among the 60 participants, 45 (75.0%) were aged 25–44 years and 43 (71.7%) were male. Twenty-seven (45.0%) participants were graduates, 24 (40.0%) were self-employed, and 40 (66.7%) followed a vegetarian diet. Thirty (50.0%) participants reported being physically active, while 45 (75.0%) had previous knowledge regarding lifestyle modification for obesity prevention. Regarding overall knowledge, 30 (50.0%) participants had adequate knowledge, 24 (40.0%) had moderately adequate knowledge and 6 (10.0%) had inadequate knowledge. Previous knowledge regarding obesity prevention was reported to have a statistically significant association with knowledge level, whereas the reported associations with age, gender, educational status, occupation, family income, type of diet and physical activity were not statistically significant.
Conclusion: The findings show that although most participants demonstrated adequate or moderately adequate knowledge regarding lifestyle modification for obesity prevention, a proportion had inadequate knowledge. Previous knowledge regarding obesity prevention was significantly associated with knowledge level in this sample. Strengthening community-based health education, counselling and preventive health-promotion activities may help improve awareness regarding healthy dietary practices, physical activity and other lifestyle measures for obesity prevention.