Analysis of obesity phobia perceptions of youth in Kurdistan-Iraq

The Region of Kurdistan-Iraq has inherited numerous social and health problems due to the devastation of conflicts and wars on the region over a considerable number of years. Obesity and the phobia perception among the population at large is at an alarming rate and continues to be a significant public health problem, especially among young adults. The purpose of this study was to determine the fat phobia perceptions and predictors thereof among selected youth in Kurdistan-Iraq. A 14 item semantic differential questionnaire (Fat Phobia [Bacon, Scheltema, & Robinson, 2001) was translated into Arabic and Kurdish and back translated to ensure content consistency and administered to nearly 1,900 youth in 31 middle schools in Hewler-Kurdistan (1322 girls 651 boys). Schools included girl or boy only schools, or coed schools Data were analyzed using SAS and Excel programs. Perceptions varied significantly by gender and item. Factor analysis was used to identify items contributing to phobia perception as well as to identify predictor factors. Predictor factors varied by type of school and gender of the respondents. Predictor variables included fast versus slow, self esteem level, endurance levels, self-indulgent versus self-sacrificing, and level of activity. The results of this study should be considered by those developing interventions to reduce the problem of obesity among youth in this region.