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Journals / Türkiye Diyabet ve Obezite Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 10 Sayı: 2

Socioeconomic Inequalities in Health Literacy and Health Behaviors Related to Obesity among School Children: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Public School in Ankara

Ankara’da Bir Devlet Ortaokulu Öğrencilerinde Obezite ile İlişkili Sağlık Okuryazarlığı ve Sağlık Davranışlarında Sosyoekonomik Eşitsizlikler: Kesitsel Bir Çalışma

Fikriye Yılmaz(Başkent Üniversitesi)0000-0002-4884-3803
Atakan Yılmaz(Istanbul Esenyurt University)0000-0002-4520-0220
Didem Hekimoğlu Tunç(CANAKKALE ONSEKIZ MART UNIVERSITY)0000-0002-2405-4623
Pages
139–152
Publication Date
2026-08-31
DOI
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Interventions should focus on improving health literacy through school-based and family-centered programs, addressing structural disparities to promote equitable health behaviors and outcomes.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

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Objective & Hypothesis:Aim: Childhood obesity is a growing global public health concern influenced by complex socioeconomic determinants.
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Key Findings & Data:This study aims to examine the relationship between children's socioeconomic status and health literacy and health behaviors related to childhood obesity.Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to April 2025 with 250 students aged 10-14 at a public secondary school in Ankara.
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Conclusion & Impact:Interventions should focus on improving health literacy through school-based and family-centered programs, addressing structural disparities to promote equitable health behaviors and outcomes.
🔬Design:Survey & Empirical Study
📍Scope:2025 Verileri
⚙️Variables:Pediatrik obezite · Sağlık davranışı · Sağlık okuryazarlığı

Abstract

Aim: Childhood obesity is a growing global public health concern influenced by complex socioeconomic determinants. This study aims to examine the relationship between children's socioeconomic status and health literacy and health behaviors related to childhood obesity.Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to April 2025 with 250 students aged 10-14 at a public secondary school in Ankara. Stratified sampling ensured representative participation. Data were collected through structured questionnaires assessing demographics, socioeconomic status (using Family Affluence Scale and UNICEF Child Deprivation Index), health status, behaviors, physical activity, and a validated health literacy scale specific to childhood obesity prevention. Statistical analyses were performed using non-parametric tests (Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis) and binary logistic regression via IBM SPSS 27..Results: : The median age of cases was 13 (IQR: 2) years, with 52.4% male. Most families were middle-income; however, 24% experienced deprivation. Over half of the students were physically inactive, and many had low breakfast consumption. Health literacy levels were predominantly moderate (57.8%) or low (36.9%), with only 5.2% achieving high health literacy. Low socioeconomic status, irregular breakfast habits, and poor self-rated health were significantly associated with lower health literacy scores (p < 0.05). Health behaviors aimed at obesity prevention were mostly low to moderate, mirroring literacy findings.Conclusion: Health literacy plays a critical role in childhood obesity prevention and is strongly influenced by socioeconomic inequalities. Interventions should focus on improving health literacy through school-based and family-centered programs, addressing structural disparities to promote equitable health behaviors and outcomes.

Özet

Amaç: Çocukluk çağı obezitesi, karmaşık sosyoekonomik belirleyicilerden etkilenen ve giderek büyüyen küresel bir halk sağlığı sorunudur. Bu çalışma, çocukların sosyoekonomik düzeyleri ile çocukluk çağı obezitesiyle ilgili sağlık okuryazarlığı ve sağlık davranışları arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır.Gereç ve Yöntemler: Kesitsel tipteki bu çalışma, Ocak-Nisan 2025 tarihleri arasında Ankara’daki bir devlet ortaokulunda eğitim gören 10-14 yaş arası 250 öğrenci ile yürütülmüştür. Temsili katılımı sağlamak amacıyla tabakalı örnekleme yöntemi kullanılmıştır. Veriler; demografik özellikler, sosyoekonomik düzey (Aile Refah Ölçeği ve UNICEF Çocuk Yoksunluk İndeksi kullanılarak), sağlık durumu, sağlık davranışları, fiziksel aktivite ve çocukluk çağı obezitesini önlemeye özgü geçerliliği kanıtlanmış bir sağlık okuryazarlığı ölçeğini içeren yapılandırılmış anket aracılığıyla toplanmıştır. İstatistiksel analizler, IBM SPSS 27 programı kullanılarak parametrik olmayan testler (Mann-Whitney U ve Kruskal-Wallis) ve ikili lojistik regresyon analizi ile yapılmıştır. Bulgular: Olguların medyan yaşı 13 (IQR: 2) yıl olup, %52,4’ü erkektir. Ailelerin çoğu orta gelir grubunda yer almasına rağmen, %24’ü yoksunluk yaşamaktadır. Öğrencilerin yarısından fazlası fiziksel olarak inaktiftir ve birçoğunun kahvaltı tüketimi düşüktür. Sağlık okuryazarlığı düzeyleri ağırlıklı olarak orta (%57,8) veya düşük (%36,9) seviyede olup, yüksek sağlık okuryazarlığına sahip olanların oranı sadece %5,2’dir. Düşük sosyoekonomik düzey, düzensiz kahvaltı alışkanlığı ve kötü öznel sağlık algısı, daha düşük sağlık okuryazarlığı puanları ile anlamlı düzeyde ilişkilidir (p < 0,05). Obeziteyi önlemeye yönelik sağlık davranışları, okuryazarlık bulgularına benzer şekilde çoğunlukla düşük ila orta seviyededir.Sonuç: Sağlık okuryazarlığı, çocukluk çağı obezitesinin önlenmesinde kritik bir rol oynamakta ve sosyoekonomik eşitsizliklerden güçlü bir şekilde etkilenmektedir. Müdahaleler, adil sağlık davranışlarını ve sonuçlarını teşvik etmek için yapısal eşitsizlikleri ele alarak, okul tabanlı ve aile merkezli programlar aracılığıyla sağlık okuryazarlığını geliştirmeye odaklanmalıdır.

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Cite This Article

Yılmaz, F., Yılmaz, A., Tunç, D. H. (2026). Socioeconomic Inequalities in Health Literacy and Health Behaviors Related to Obesity among School Children: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Public School in Ankara. Türkiye Diyabet ve Obezite Dergisi, Cilt: 10 Sayı: 2, 139–152. https://ajindex.com/articles/1436185

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