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Frontiers in Medical and Clinical Sciences

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Socio-Demographic Predictors of Weight Management Behaviours among Mothers of Primary School Children in the United Kingdom

DOI https://doi.org/10.64917/fmcs/Volume03Issue07-01
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Oludolapo Dada 1 Kennedy Oberhiri Obohwemu 1 ORCID iD Freedom Nwakaego Igheghe 1 Celestine Emeka Ekwuluo 1 ORCID iD Gordon Mabengban Yakpir 1 ORCID iD Maame Ama Owusuaa-Asante, 1 ORCID iD Aduke E. Ipingbemi 1 Ripeitikehe Theresa Oshaka 1 Obiageli Uzoamaka Onyemelukwe 1 ORCID iD Chinenye Cynthia Akwolu 1 ORCID iD
4 MScPH, Department of Interdisciplinary Research and Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
4 PhD, Department of Interdisciplinary Research and Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
4 MScPH, Department of Interdisciplinary Research and Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
4 MPH, Family Health International, Ukraine; and Department of Interdisciplinary Research and Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
4 PhD, Faculty of Health, Wellbeing & Social Care, Oxford Brookes University, GBS Partnership, Birmingham Campus, United Kingdom; Department of Interdisciplinary Research and Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
4 PhD, Department of Health, Wellbeing and Social Care, Oxford Brookes University, GBS Partnership, Birmingham, United Kingdom; and Department of Interdisciplinary Research & Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
4 PhD, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Department of Health and Social Care, East Kent Colleges Group, Ashford, Kent, United Kingdom; Department of Interdisciplinary Research and Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom
4 MSc PHHP, General Medicine Department, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Scotland; and Department of Interdisciplinary Research and Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom
4 FWACP, Alras General Hospital, Alras, Al-Qassim, Saudi Arabia; and Department of Interdisciplinary Research and Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
4 MSc, Liverpool Women’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom; and Department of Interdisciplinary Research & Statistics, PENKUP Research Institute, Birmingham, United Kingdom.

Abstract

Background: Socio-demographic inequalities are recognised as important determinants of obesity and weight management, yet limited research has examined how these factors influence knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of weight management among mothers of primary school children. This paper investigated the associations between selected socio-demographic characteristics and KAP towards weight management among mothers residing in Sunderland, United Kingdom.

Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted among 267 mothers of primary school children. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire assessing socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude and practice of weight management. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise participant characteristics, while Chi-square tests and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) examined differences in KAP across age, ethnicity, educational attainment and monthly household income. Pearson's correlation analysis explored relationships between the three KAP domains.

Results: Significant associations were observed between knowledge and both age (χ² = 33.219, p < .001) and ethnicity (χ² = 28.766, p < .001), while educational attainment and monthly income were not significantly associated with knowledge. Attitude differed significantly according to age (χ² = 14.620, p = .002), ethnicity (χ² = 36.275, p < .001) and educational attainment (χ² = 12.240, p = .002), but not income. Behavioural practice demonstrated no significant associations with socio-demographic characteristics, except for differences in mean practice scores across age groups (F = 3.577, p = .015). Correlation analysis identified weak positive relationships between knowledge and attitude (r = 0.143, p = .019) and between attitude and practice (r = 0.236, p < .001), whereas knowledge was not significantly correlated with practice (r = 0.112, p = .067).

Conclusion: Socio-demographic characteristics influence knowledge and attitudes towards weight management more strongly than behavioural practice among mothers of primary school children. These findings suggest that improving awareness alone is unlikely to achieve meaningful behavioural change. Public health interventions should combine demographic sensitivity with strategies that address the broader contextual factors influencing weight management behaviours.

How to Cite

Dada, O., Obohwemu, K. O., Igheghe, F. N., Ekwuluo, C. E., Yakpir, G. M., Owusuaa-Asante, , M. A., … Akwolu, C. C. (2026). Socio-Demographic Predictors of Weight Management Behaviours among Mothers of Primary School Children in the United Kingdom. Frontiers in Medical and Clinical Sciences, 3(07), 32–44. https://doi.org/10.64917/fmcs/Volume03Issue07-01
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