The Impact of Obesogenic Neighborhood Environments and Maternal Health Literacy on Children's Obesogenic Feeding Attitudes

Mahmut Kiliç; Sema Nur  Çatal

doi:10.51745/najfnr.9.19.174-188

The Impact of Obesogenic Neighborhood Environments and Maternal Health Literacy on Children's Obesogenic Feeding Attitudes

PDF (Full text)

Public Health Nutrition Policy & Economics Infant, Child, and Adolescent Nutrition

DOI https://doi.org/10.51745/najfnr.9.19.174-188

Issue Vol. 9 No. 19 (2025): January - June, 2025

Submitted 2024-11-20

Accepted 2025-04-11

Published 2025-05-13

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made.
No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.

Background: The escalating prevalence of childhood obesity constitutes a significant public health concern, with a multitude of interacting factors contributing to its etiology.

Aims: This investigation was conducted to determine the interrelationships among obesogenic feeding attitudes in early adolescents, the degree of obesogenic environmental exposure, and maternal health literacy (HL).

Patients and Methods: This research employed cross-sectional design. The study population comprised middle school students (grades 5–8) residing within the urban center of Yozgat city, with data collection conducted in 2022. Data acquisition was facilitated through the administration of the Food Desire Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the Obesogenic Environment Evaluation Form (OEEF), and the European Health Literacy Scale Turkish Short Form (EHLS-TR-16). A total of 583 students and their respective mothers participated in the study.

Results: The findings indicated that 20.9% the child participants exhibited a disposition towards obesogenic foods, while 28.6% demonstrated a strong inclination towards such consumption. Furthermore, 24.4% of the children were identified as being at heightened risk due to exposure to an obesogenic environment. A statistically significant positive correlation was observed between children's preference for obesogenic foods increases and elevated OEEF score (β=0.197, p < 0.05), engagement in sporting activities (β = 0.102, p < 0.05), and the utilization of social media via mobile devices (β=0.096, p < 0.05). Conversely, no statistically significant associations were observed between children's preference for obesogenic food consumption and maternal HL levels, familial characteristics, child sex, age, or dietary behaviors such as the frequency of meals and snacks, and the practice of bringing food to school (p > 0.05).

Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that residing within an obesogenic environment and the utilization of social media exert a noticeable influence on children's consumption of energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods. It is recommended that local authorities consider the provision of requisite playgrounds and sporting infrastructure for children.

Keywords

Children Obesity Feeding Attitude Neighborhood Environment Health Literacy

Mahmut Kiliç

Yozgat Bozok University, Erdoğan Akdağ Kampüsü 66900. Yozgat
Sema Nur Çatal

Yozgat Bozok University, Research and Application Hospital Erdoğan Akdağ Kampüsü 66900. Yozgat

PDF (Full text)

How to Cite

The Impact of Obesogenic Neighborhood Environments and Maternal Health Literacy on Children’s Obesogenic Feeding Attitudes. (2025). The North African Journal of Food and Nutrition Research, 9(19), 174-188. https://doi.org/10.51745/najfnr.9.19.174-188

More Citation Formats

Download Citation

Ali, T., & Ali, J. (2020). Factors affecting the consumers’ willingness to pay for health and wellness food products. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 2(100076), 100076. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2020.100076

Alphan, E., Keskin, Y., & Tatlı, F. (2002). Özel Okul ve Devlet Okulunda Öğrenim Gören Adolesan Dönemindeki Çocukların Beslenme Alışkanlıklarının Karşılaştırılması/ Comparison of Nutritional Habits of Adolescent Children Studying in Private and Public Schools. Beslenme ve Diyet Dergisi. Journal of Nutrition and Diet, 31(1), 9–17

Avci, Y. (2016). Personal Health Responsibility. TAF Preventive Medicine Bulletin, 15(3), 259. https://doi.org/10.5455/pmb.1-1445494881

Birch, L. L., & Anzman, S. L. (2010). Learning to eat in an obesogenic environment: A developmental systems perspective on childhood obesity: Learning to eat. Child Development Perspectives, 4(2), 138–143. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1750-8606.2010.00132.x

Chrissini, M. K., & Panagiotakos, D. B. (2021). Health literacy as a determinant of childhood and adult obesity: a systematic review. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 33(3), 9–39. https://doi.org/10.1515/ijamh-2020-0275

Emiral, G. O., Aygar, H., Isiktekin, B., Göktas, S., Dagtekin, G., Arslantas, D., & Unsal, A. (2018). Health Literacy Scale-European Union-Q16: A Validity and Reliability Study in Turkey. International Research Journal of Medical Sciences, 6(1), 1–7.

Ergül, Ş., & Kalkım, A. (2011). Önemli Bir Kronik Hastalık : Çocukluk ve Ergenlik Döneminde Obezite/ A major chronic disease: Obesity in childhood and adolescence. TAF Preventive Medicine Bulletin, 10(2), 223–230.

Erkuran, H., & Karadeniz, H. (2019). Çocukluk Çağında Obezite/ Childhood Obesity. Sağlık ve Toplum, 29(3), 12–19.

Folkvord, F., & Hermans, R. C. J. (2020). Food marketing in an obesogenic environment: A narrative overview of the potential of healthy food promotion to children and adults. Current Addiction Reports, 7(4), 431–436. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-020-00338-4

Gauthier, K. I., & Krajicek, M. J. (2013). Obesogenic environment: a concept analysis and pediatric perspective: Obesogenic Environment: A Concept Analysis and Pediatric Perspective. Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing: JSPN, 18(3), 202–210. https://doi.org/10.1111/jspn.12027

Gül, E. (2018). Yetişkin bireylerde sağlık okuryazarlığının yeme davranışı ve sağlık algısı ile ilişkisinin incelenmesi/ Examining the relationship between health literacy and eating behavior and health perception in adult individuals. İnönü Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Elazığ.

Gümüş, D., Kızıl, M., Dikmen, D., & Uyar, M. F. (2015). Gelir düzeyinin ilköğretim öğrencilerinin besin tercihlerine etkisinin değerlendirilmesi/ Evaluation of the effect of income level on primary school students’ food preferences. H.Ü. Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi Dergisi, 2(1), 22–38.

Güneş, N. B., Alkan, I., Işık, R. A., Dağ, O., & Özcebe, H. (2024). Childhood obesity: Pathways between mothers’ health literacy and behaviors and self-efficacy of eating and physical activity in their children. Journal of Education and Research in Nursing, 21(1), 11–19. https://doi.org/10.14744/jern.2023.83009

Guo, F., Bostean, G., Berardi, V., Velasquez, A. J., & Robinette, J. W. (2022). Obesogenic environments and cardiovascular disease: a path analysis using US nationally representative data. BMC Public Health, 22(1), 703. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-13100-4

Hammond, L., Morello, O., Kucab, M., Totosy de Zepetnek, J. O., Lee, J. J., Doheny, T., & Bellissimo, N. (2022). Predictive Validity of Image-Based Motivation-to-Eat Visual Analogue Scales in Normal Weight Children and Adolescents Aged 9-14 Years. Nutrients, 14(3), 636. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14030636

Hayzaran, M. (2018). Üniversite öğrencilerinin hedonik açlık durumlarının farklı ölçekler ile belirlenmesi/ Determination of hedonic hunger status of university students using different scales. Başkent Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Enstitüsü, Ankara.

Inal, S., & Canbulat, N. B. (2013). General overview on childhood obesity /Çocukluk Çaǧı Obezitesine Genel Bakış. Guncel Pediatri, 11(1), 27–30. Google Scholar

İzoğlu Toka, A., & Doğan, Ö. (2021). 15-17 yaş arası ergenlerin deneyimlerinden sağlık okuryazarlığı kavramı: Nitel bir çalışma. Turkısh Journal of Publıc Health, 19(1), 79–91.

Jia P. (2021). Obesogenic environment and childhood obesity. Obesity Reviews: An Official Journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity, 22 Suppl 1, e13158. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.13158

Kaczynski, A. T., Eberth, J. M., Stowe, E. W., Wende, M. E., Liese, A. D., McLain, A. C., Breneman, C. B., & Josey, M. J. (2020). Development of a national childhood obesogenic environment index in the United States: differences by region and rurality. The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity, 17(1), 83. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-020-00984-x

Kansra, A. R., Lakkunarajah, S., & Jay, M. S. (2020). Childhood and adolescent obesity: A review. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 8, 581461. https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2020.581461

Karamelikli, E. (2021). Karabük İlindeki Ortaöğretim Öğrencilerinin Obezojenik Çevre Yönünden Değerlendirilmesi/ Evaluation of Secondary School Students in Karabük Province in Terms of Obesogenic Environment. Istanbul University Institute of Health Sciences, İstanbul-Turkiye.

Koçakoğlu, M. G., & Altunsu Sönmez, Özlem. (2025). The Impact of Parental Attitudes on Academic Performance and Obesity of Elementary School Students. Pegem Journal of Education and Instruction, 15(2), 83–94. https://doi.org/10.47750/pegegog.15.02.09

Kocalar, A. C. (2020). Rekreasyon/Rekreaktif-Oyun-Spor Alanlarının (ROSA) Kentsel Tasarımı ve Planlanması (Uygulama Örnekleri). İDEALKENT, 11(31), 2054–2083. https://doi.org/10.31198/idealkent.613331

Lister, N. B., Baur, L. A., Felix, J. F., Hill, A. J., Marcus, C., Reinehr, T., Summerbell, C., & Wabitsch, M. (2023). Child and adolescent obesity. Nature Reviews. Disease Primers, 9(1), 24. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41572-023-00435-4

MEB. (2016). Okul Sağlığı Hizmetleri İşbirliği Protokolü: Okulda Sağlığın Korunması ve Geliştirilmesi Programı Uygulama Kılavuzu/ School Health Services Cooperation Protocol: School Health Protection and Promotion Program Implementation Guide. Milli Eğitim Bakanlığı.

Mei, K., Huang, H., Xia, F., Hong, A., Chen, X., Zhang, C., Qiu, G., Chen, G., Wang, Z., Wang, C., Yang, B., Xiao, Q., & Jia, P. (2021). State-of-the-art of measures of the obesogenic environment for children. Obesity Reviews: An Official Journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity, 22 Suppl 1(S1), e13093. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.13093

Ng, M., Fleming, T., Robinson, M., Thomson, B., Graetz, N., Margono, C., Mullany, E. C., Biryukov, S., Abbafati, C., Abera, S. F., Abraham, J. P., Abu-Rmeileh, N. M. E., Achoki, T., AlBuhairan, F. S., Alemu, Z. A., Alfonso, R., Ali, M. K., Ali, R., Guzman, N. A., … Gakidou, E. (2014). Global, regional, and national prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adults during 1980-2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013. Lancet, 384(9945), 766–781. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)60460-8

Nogueira-de-Almeida, C. A., Weffort, V. R. S., Ued, F. da V., Ferraz, I. S., Contini, A. A., Martinez, E. Z., & Ciampo, L. A. D. (2024). What causes obesity in children and adolescents? Jornal de Pediatria, 100 Suppl 1, S48–S56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jped.2023.09.011

Nutbeam, D. (2000). Health literacy as a public health goal: a challenge for contemporary health education and communication strategies into the 21st century. Health Promotion International, 15(3), 259–267. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/15.3.259

Özilbey, P., & Ergör, G. (2015). İzmir İli Güzelbahçe İlçesi’nde ilköğretim öğrencilerinde obezite prevalansı ve beslenme alışkanlıklarının belirlenmesi. Turkish Journal of Public Health, 13(1), 30. https://doi.org/10.20518/thsd.45885

Pazarcikci, F., Ağrali, H., & Aydinli, A. (2022). Annelerin Dijital Ebeveynlik Farkındalığının Sağlık Okuryazarlığı ve Çeşitli Değişkenler ile İlişkisi. Bağımlılık Dergisi, 23(3), 292–301. https://doi.org/10.51982/bagimli.1004480

Pekcan, G., & Beğenmez, N. (1988). Ergenlik çağı gençlerin beslenmesine annenin çalışma durumunun etkisi/ The effect of the mother’s working status on the nutrition of adolescents. Beslenme ve Diyet Dergisi, 17(1), 59–66.

Rashad H. World Health Organization. (2016). Report of The Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity. WHO Document Production Services. Retrieved from https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/204176/9789241510066_eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

Safeer, R. S., & Keenan, J. (2005). Health literacy: the gap between physicians and patients. American Family Physician, 72(3), 463–468.

Sağlık İstatistikleri Yıllığı 2021/ Health Statistics Yearbook 2021. (2023). Sağlık Bilgi Sistemleri Genel Müdürlüğü.

Sarıalioğlu, A., Küçükoğlu, S., Aytekin Özdemir, A., Köse, S., & Çelebioğlu, A. (2021). The effect of obesogenic environment and Socio-demographic characteristics on obesity awareness levels of children. Güncel Pediatri, 19(3), 292–302. https://doi.org/10.4274/jcp.2021.34603

Savcı, R. G., & Yalçın, S. S. (2025). Maternal perception and childhood overweight: Examining parenting styles and eating behaviors among preschoolers: A cross-sectional study from Samsun, Türkiye. Nutrients, 17(1), 195. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17010195

Scaglioni, S., De Cosmi, V., Ciappolino, V., Parazzini, F., Brambilla, P., & Agostoni, C. (2018). Factors influencing children’s eating behaviours. Nutrients, 10(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10060706

Seremet Kürklü, N., & Özel, HG (2015). Determination of Nutritional Status and Obesity Prevalence of Secondary School Students with Different Socioeconomic Levels. Journal of Nutrition and Diet, 43 (2), 100–110.

Severcan, Y. (2015). Rekreasyon Alanları ve çocuk güvenliği/ Recreation Areas and child safety. ODTÜ Mimarlık Fakültesi, Şehir ve Bölge Planlama Bölümü.

Smith, R., Kelly, B., Yeatman, H., & Boyland, E. (2019). Food marketing influences children’s attitudes, preferences and consumption: A systematic critical review. Nutrients, 11(4), 875. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11040875

Sonneville, K. R., Rifas-Shiman, S. L., Kleinman, K. P., Gortmaker, S. L., Gillman, M. W., & Taveras, E. M. (2012). Associations of obesogenic behaviors in mothers and obese children participating in a randomized trial. Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.), 20(7), 1449–1454. https://doi.org/10.1038/oby.2012.43

Sørensen, K., Van den Broucke, S., Pelikan, J. M., Fullam, J., Doyle, G., Slonska, Z., Kondilis, B., Stoffels, V., Osborne, R. H., Brand, H., & HLS-EU Consortium. (2013). Measuring health literacy in populations: illuminating the design and development process of the European Health Literacy Survey Questionnaire (HLS-EU-Q). BMC Public Health, 13(1), 948. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-948

Speirs, K. E., Messina, L. A., Munger, A. L., & Grutzmacher, S. K. (2012). Health literacy and nutrition behaviors among low-income adults. Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 23(3), 1082–1091. https://doi.org/10.1353/hpu.2012.0113

Stubbs, R. J., Hughes, D. A., Johnstone, A. M., Rowley, E., Reid, C., Elia, M., Stratton, R., Delargy, H., King, N., & Blundell, J. E. (2000). The use of visual analogue scales to assess motivation to eat in human subjects: a review of their reliability and validity with an evaluation of new hand-held computerized systems for temporal tracking of appetite ratings. The British Journal of Nutrition, 84(4), 405–415. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0007114500001719

Tanrıöver, M., Yıldırım, H. H., Ready, F. N., Çakır, B., & Akalın, H. E. (2014). Sağlık okuryazarlığı çalışmaları: Sınırlı sağlık okuryazarlığının prevalansı ve sonuçları. Türkiye Sağlık Okuryazarlığı Araştırması/Health Literacy Studies: Prevalence and Consequences of Limited Health Literacy. Türkiye Health Literacy Research. Sağlık-Sen Yayınları.

Taş, T. A., & Akış, N. (2016). Sağlık Okuryazarlığı/ Health Literacy. Sürekli Tıp Eğitimi Dergisi, 25(3), 119–124.

Tsochantaridou, A., Sergentanis, T. N., Grammatikopoulou, M. G., Merakou, K., Vassilakou, T., & Kornarou, E. (2023). Food advertisement and dietary choices in adolescents: An overview of recent studies. Children (Basel, Switzerland), 10(3). https://doi.org/10.3390/children10030442

Vos, M., Deforche, B., Van Kerckhove, A., Michels, N., Poelman, M., Geuens, M., & Van Lippevelde, W. (2022). Determinants of healthy and sustainable food choices in parents with a higher and lower socioeconomic status: A qualitative study. Appetite, 178(106180), 106180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2022.106180

World Health Organization. (2023). Obesity and overweight Fact sheet. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight

World Health Organization. (2022). World report on the health of refugees and migrants. World Health Organization. https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/353747/9789289057738-eng.pdf

Yayan, E. H., & Çelebioğlu, A. (2018). Effect of an obesogenic environment and health behaviour-related social support on body mass index and body image of adolescents. Global Health Promotion, 25(3), 33–42. https://doi.org/10.1177/1757975916675125

Yıldırım, F., & Keser, D. A. (2015). Sağlık Okuryazarlığı/ Health Literacy (Yayın no:3). Ankara Üniversitesi Basımevi.

More

The Impact of Obesogenic Neighborhood Environments and Maternal Health Literacy on Children's Obesogenic Feeding Attitudes

Keywords

How to Cite

Similar Articles

Downloads 180

Views 685

Country (Top 10)

Make a Submission

JournalIssue

Keywords

Browse by Category

Information

Highly Accessed

Published by

Useful Links

Connect

Contact Us