Obesity and associated factors among adolescents in secondary schools at al-diwaniya city

Obesity is one of the biggest problems that threaten the general health of the individual, as it causes many physical diseases and psychological problems and reduces their average life . The study aimed to evaluate the factors of physical activity, which include vigorous, moderate physical activity, all types of walking, and sitting hours(IPAQ) with BMI for obese adolescentsand evaluate the weight self-stigma (WSSQ) among obese adolescents in secondary schools in Al-diwaniyah city in Iraq and identifying the statistical relationship between the adolescents' obesity and their demographic characteristics of age, gender, education, parents, and family monthly income. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted from 7-2-2022 to 7-9-2022 in secondary schools in Iraq in the city of Al-Diwaniyah, which are Maysaloon school, Al-wafa school, Al-mutamayzeen school for boys and girls, and Qutaiba school.The study objectives were achieved was done using two statistical approaches descriptive data analysis, inferential data analysis This study was conducted on 170 obese students in the mentioned secondary schools, their ages ranged between 15-18 years .The results indicate that 65.9% the participants suffers from obesity from the first degree , 28.8% suffer from obesity of the second degree, and 5.2% of them suffer from obesity of the third degree.Results show that mean of physical activity levels METs vigorous 439.76±843.195 moderate 383.65±618.774, walking 677.63±3290.664, total 1501.12±3427.982. The mean of sitting hours/ day is 4.45±2.748 for adolescents in secondary schools in the city of Diwaniya there are negatively statistical correlation between vigorous, walking, total METs and BMI at ( p < 0.05). The results also showed that there are statistically significant differences between weight self-stigma with body mass index (BMI) at (p = 0.001) and the results indicate that experience more shame related to obesity of sample The results showed no statistical relationship between age, gender, monthly income of the father and mother, educational level of the parents and body mass index of adolescents in secondary schools in the city of diwaniya in Iraq. It was concluded that the higher the body mass index, the lower the physical activity, vigorous physical activity was negatively associated with obesity the increase of weight self-stigma and feeling of shame with the increase of body mass index among obese adolescents in secondary schools in Al-Diwaniyah city. The suggested recommendations by the researcher indicate that high school teens should know that they are exposed to diseases caused by obesity in the future where they need intervention by the ministry of health and follow-up by parents and teachers.They need preventive programs to know the risks and consequences of obesity, as well as not neglecting the physical education class in schools and practicing all types of vigorous and moderate physical activity in addition to walking.The role of the psychological counselor should also be activated in schools to address cases of bullying and frustration that obese adolescents are exposed to in secondary schools.The state also has to establish green spaces, public parks, and sports arenas to practice physical activities because the city of diwaniyah lacks such places. The necessity of cooperation between the iraqi ministry of health and the iraqi ministry of education to organize awareness sessions on obesity and the risks resulting from it.