Foundational knowledge regarding childhood obesity: a cross-sectional study of medical students

Abstract

Background Documentation and diagnosis of childhood obesity in primary care is poor and providers are often unfamiliar with guidelines. This lack of knowledge may be attributed to insufficient training in medical school and residency; however, no studies have evaluated medical students’ knowledge of recommendations. Methods We distributed a modified version of the Physician Survey of Practice on Diet, Physical Activity, and Weight Control to medical students at a single university. Descriptive analyses assessed knowledge and attitudes of childhood obesity and diabetes. Results Of the 213 participating students, 74% indicated being unfamiliar with obesity screening recommendations. Few correctly identified BMI percentile cut-points for child overweight (21.2%), obesity (23.7%), and normal weight (29.4%). They reported screening glucose 4.5 years earlier in patients with risk factors compared to those without (p < 0.001). Conclusions Although students recognized the need for earlier diabetes screening in children with risk factors, we determined that overall, student knowledge of obesity-related preventative care was inadequate.

Effect of modified physiology laboratory sessions on the awareness and knowledge of obesity of health-related university students

“…Similar findings of deficient knowledge and awareness of obesity have been reported of first through 4 th -year medical students regarding screening recommendations and identification of BMI percentile cutpoints in children. [ 12 ] Another study found that the 1 st year medical students scored significantly less (48%) than final year students (60%), their knowledge of the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of obesity being inadequate. [ 11 ] This difference in the knowledge of obesity has also been observed in primary care providers and nurses, and it has been suggested that additional educational training could enhance their confidence in the management of patients' weight.…”

“…Although the problem of obesity with its attendant comorbidities continues to increase throughout the world, medical students in universities have neither the knowledge nor an appreciation of this problem. [ 10 11 12 ] One important consequence of this lack of awareness is the failure to identify obesity, resulting in inaction on part of an individual. [ 13 ] Cues of personal relevance or an accumulation of cues are likely to motivate one to take action and modify one's health behavior.…”

Effectiveness of national multicentric school-based health lifestyles intervention among chinese children and adolescents on knowledge, belief, and practice toward obesity at individual, family and schools' levels

“…Notably, improved knowledge could be a fundamental factor in regulating people's practice and habits ( 44 , 45 ). According to previous findings, students were generally unfamiliar with the advice on the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity and could not identify age-appropriate cut-off points for weight status ( 46 ). Enhancing health-related knowledge was, therefore a necessary element to reduce childhood obesity effectively.…”

Addressing psychosocial health in the treatment and care of adolescents with obesity

“…Importantly, there is a paucity of training in comprehensive obesity treatment for health professionals, including primary care providers (57,58). In addition, weight bias is high among health professionals, compromising quality of care and potentially reinforcing negative psychosocial sequalae associated with obesity (32).…”