Rifat Hannan*

Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Thailand

*Corresponding Author: Rifat Hannan, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Thailand.

Received: July 06, 2021; Published: August 10, 2021

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to predict Thai female adolescents’ obesity prevention behavior in terms of healthy diet and exercise using the framework based on Theory of planned behavior.

Design/Methodology/Approach: This study was conducted with a cross-sectional analytical design through an online survey over a period of 4 weeks in March - April 2020 among female First-year students of the Faculty of Public Health at Mahidol University, Thailand; aged between 18 - 22 years.

Findings: Parental norms followed by parents’ marital status were the most important factors in predicting actual behavioral. Most of the students, (54.9%) in spite of being underweight, found to be more cautious about maintaining their weight having fair obesity prevention behavior.

Research Limitations/Implications: The survey responses may be affected by a social desirability bias. The survey includes a non-probability sample and results may not be generalized to all adolescents.

Practical Implications: The results may inform educators and policy makers in designing health communication interventions, particularly in making socializing agents aware of their role in fostering healthy eating behaviors in adolescents. As perceived behavioral control was the strongest predictor of behavioral intention, interventions and messages communicated to adolescents on healthy eating should aim to empower them with knowledge, ability and determination to eat more healthily.

Originality/Value: The study used a predictive, theoretical framework and questionnaire based on Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to investigate healthy eating and exercise behavior of the students.

Conclusion: Parental norms and Parents’ marital status were associated with obesity prevention behavior. It is evident that to improve the obesity prevention behavior identified associated factors should be improved, for instance, health education and intervention and advocacy programs regarding healthy diet practice and exercise should be conducted involving their parents.

Keywords: Theory of Planned Behavior; Attitude; Subjective Norms; Perceived Controlled Behavior; Intention; Obesity; Adolescent

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Citation

Citation: Rifat Hannan. “Parental Factors Determining the Obesity Prevention Behaviour Among Thai Female Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study”.Acta Scientific Medical Sciences 5.9 (2021): 42-49.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2021 Rifat Hannan. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.