Influence of Education, Age and Area of Living on Knowledge, Attitude and Practices towards Obesity: A Cross-Sectional Study in West Bengal

Obesity is becoming a global health problem at an alarming rate and is one of the main causes for the increasing number of chronic and lifestyle-related illnesses. It is important to comprehend how socio-demographic factors affect people's knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) towards obesity for the development of effective prevention programs. In West Bengal, this cross-sectional research study was aimed at evaluating the impact of age, education, and area of residence on obesity-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices among 253 participants. Data collection involved the use of a structured questionnaire that was given to people via Google Forms and shared on WhatsApp. After that, the data were analyzed statistically using both descriptive and comparative methods among generational cohorts, educational levels, and rural-urban groups. There were considerable demographic differences in the KAP scores. Generation Z had the highest mean score in knowledge (4.23), attitude (4.25), and practice (4.53), whereas Generation X had the lowest scores in knowledge (1.56) and attitude (1.55) (p