Knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward obesity and their determinants: a cross-sectional study

Background Obesity remains a major global health challenge and a significant contributor to chronic diseases. This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to obesity and to identify sociodemographic and clinical factors influencing these domains among individuals with obesity. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a convenience, non-probability sampling method among individuals with obesity recruited from hospitals, health clinics, and community settings. Obesity-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices were assessed, and multinomial regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with KAP outcomes. Results A total of 419 participants were included, with a nearly equal gender distribution and a predominantly young adult population, most of whom had university-level education. Overall, 45.3% demonstrated satisfactory knowledge, 42.2% exhibited positive attitudes, and 43.0% reported effective practices regarding obesity management. Increasing age (OR = 1.361, 95% CI: 1.134–1.635) and higher education (OR = 2.417, 95% CI: 1.575–3.710) were significantly associated with satisfactory knowledge. Male participants were more likely to exhibit negative attitudes than females (OR = 1.909, 95% CI: 1.141–3.195), while individuals diagnosed with obesity were less likely to report non-satisfactory attitudes (OR = 0.495, 95% CI: 0.290–0.845). Effective practices were associated with age (OR = 1.296, 95% CI: 1.076–1.562) and obesity diagnosis (OR = 0.475, 95% CI: 0.278–0.811). Perceptions of nutritional value significantly influenced both knowledge (OR = 0.741, 95% CI: 0.571–0.961) and practices (OR = 0.384, 95% CI: 0.288–0.512). Conclusion The findings highlight the role of key sociodemographic and clinical factors—particularly age, education, and obesity diagnosis—in shaping obesity-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Targeted educational and behavioral interventions, especially among younger individuals and males, along with improved awareness of nutritional value, may enhance obesity management outcomes.