Impact of Physical Activity on Challenging Obesity in Pakistan: A Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) Study

Abstract

Physical activity (PA) refers to any action produced by skeletal muscle that consumes energy. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), PA is the primary element that can improve health at the community level. Obviously, PA plays an important role in the social, physical, and mental development of men and women, as well as in balancing weight. However, the large-scale negative impacts of physical inactivity on health-related issues are also recognized globally, such as obesity, which is the source of many non-communication diseases (NCDs). In Pakistan alone, 46% of deaths occur due to NCD. The majority of NCD deaths are linked to obesity, and Pakistan is the ninth most obese country in the world. Research on obesity caused by sedentary work in Pakistan is lacking, especially among university employees. To fill this gap, the current study mainly focuses on the rising non-communicable disease (NCD) rates among university employees in Pakistan due to a lack of exercise (obesity, in this case), with the help of a self-designed knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) questionnaire. Five universities in the Sindh province of Pakistan were surveyed (n = 276), following the concept of Yin–Yang as a theoretical lens. The results of the current study show that the knowledge, behaviors, and attitudes of university employees have a great influence on their body mass index (BMI). The study shows that Pakistani residents’ (especially teaching staff) perceptions and attitudes towards obesity and PA have been instructive, but their practices need to be improved.

Obesity self-management: knowledge, attitude, practice, and pharmaceutical use among healthy obese individuals in Saudi Arabia

“…Although the participants had good knowledge and attitude levels, they demonstrated poor practice. Similar results were found in a study conducted by Laar et al 32 Alhawiti revealed similar obesity KAP results with satisfactory levels of knowledge but poor levels of attitude and practice. 23 However, another study showed that poor levels of obesity knowledge reflected poor attitudes and practice levels.…”

“…23 KAP levels were significantly associated with BMI and WC; therefore, improving KAP levels by improving BMI and WC measurements could reduce obesity. 23 Laar et al 32 also found a significant correlation between knowledge and BMI. 32 Similarly, Saleh et al demonstrated that practice levels were significantly associated with BMI.…”

“…23 Laar et al 32 also found a significant correlation between knowledge and BMI. 32 Similarly, Saleh et al demonstrated that practice levels were significantly associated with BMI. 33 Therefore, good levels of obesity knowledge may result in good practice levels; however, several factors can influence the practice levels despite the presence of good obesity knowledge levels, which can be modifiable (pharmaceutical intervention, drug compliance, time management, self-efficacy, physical exercise, BMI, WC, and psychological factors such as motivation and depression) or non-modifiable (sex, age, and race).…”

Relationship Between Physical Inactivity and Obesity in the Urban Slums of Lahore

“…Physical activity refers to the action that consumes energy and produces skeletal muscle. It is the prime element for the improvement of health [ 1 ]. It has a considerable role in fat loss and healthy weight gain.…”

“…For the global population, BMI ranging from 18.5 to 24.9 is considered normal whereas BMI ranging from 25-29.9 means over-weight, 30-34.9 is obesity class I, 35-39.9 is obesity class II and > 40 is obesity class III. Normal BMI ranges from 18.5 to less than 23 in South Asian countries, 23-27.5 is labeled over-weight and 27.5-32.5, 32.5-37.5, and above 37.5 are obesity class I, II, and III [ 1 ].…”