{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,5]],"date-time":"2026-03-05T14:42:15Z","timestamp":1772721735475,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":33,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,3]],"date-time":"2025-12-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1764720000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Public Health"],"abstract":"\n Background<\/jats:title>\n School-based interventions have been widely used in the prevention and control of childhood obesity. Teachers, as pivotal figures in child development, are strategically situated to aid in this process. Nonetheless, there is limited evidence regarding their role, awareness, and contribution to childhood obesity in Ghana. This study evaluated the role of teachers in the prevention and management of childhood obesity in Ghana.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Materials and methods<\/jats:title>\n This quantitative, cross-sectional study included 74 teachers selected through convenience sampling from public schools in the Oforikrom Municipality of Kumasi, the capital of Ghana\u2019s Ashanti Region. Data were gathered using a structured pre-tested questionnaire and analyzed using the R programming software. Binary logistic regression was performed to identify the factors associated with teacher\u2019s participation in childhood obesity prevention programs.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Results<\/jats:title>\n \n The study revealed that 46% of teachers were familiar with childhood obesity with only 33.8% of teachers familiar with its causes. Significant institutional hurdles included resource restrictions (46%), insufficient training (24.3%), and time constraints (12.2%). Chi-square analysis revealed that teachers\u2019 participation in childhood obesity prevention was significantly associated with socioeconomic conditions (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f=\u202f0.016), challenges faced (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f=\u202f0.022), perception of physical activity (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f=\u202f0.012), physical education practices (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f=\u202f0.006), outdoor play promotion (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f=\u202f0.026), health screenings (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f=\u202f0.002), healthy eating education (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f=\u202f0.002), and counseling practices (\n p<\/jats:italic>\n \u202f&lt;\u202f0.001). However, the multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed no statistically significant determinants of teachers\u2019 participation.\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n The results highlight the necessity for specific measures, including professional development initiatives, institutional policy modifications, and resource distribution, to improve teachers\u2019 ability to combat childhood obesity. Policymakers ought to incorporate comprehensive school health initiatives into the curriculum, prioritizing physical exercise and nutritious food.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2025.1724617","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,3]],"date-time":"2025-12-03T06:32:38Z","timestamp":1764743558000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["The role of teachers in the prevention and management of childhood obesity among school-aged children in Ghana: a cross-sectional study"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Chantal","family":"Kayitesi","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Nadia","family":"Tagoe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Princess Ruhama","family":"Acheampong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"715","DOI":"10.1111\/obr.12551","article-title":"Obesity: a chronic relapsing progressive disease process. A position statement of the world obesity Federation","volume":"18","author":"Bray","year":"2017","journal-title":"Obes Rev"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"12","DOI":"10.56397\/JIMR\/2023.03.04","article-title":"Obesity and its related diseases: a new escalating alarming in global health","volume":"2","author":"Mohajan","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Innov Med Res"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"288","DOI":"10.1093\/aje\/kwu111","article-title":"Body mass index categories in observational studies of weight and risk of death","volume":"180","author":"Flegal","year":"2014","journal-title":"Am J Epidemiol"},{"key":"ref4","volume-title":"World obesity atlas 2023","author":"Lobstein","year":"2023"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2440","DOI":"10.1056\/NEJMsa1909301","article-title":"Projected US state-level prevalence of adult obesity and severe obesity","volume":"381","author":"Ward","year":"2019","journal-title":"N Engl J Med"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"74","DOI":"10.4324\/9781003306689-12","article-title":"Obesity: burden, epidemiology and priority interventions","volume-title":"Noncommunicable diseases","author":"Bovet","year":"2023"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"6","DOI":"10.4314\/thrb.v12i1.56202","article-title":"Prevalence of overweight and obesity among children aged 6-12 years in Dodoma and Kinondoni municipalities, Tanzania","volume":"12","author":"Mosha","year":"2010","journal-title":"Tanzan J Health Res"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2104","DOI":"10.21275\/v5i6.21061602","article-title":"Prevalence of diabetes mellitus complications among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus attending a teaching hospital in Ghana: a clinical audit","volume":"3","author":"Amissah","year":"2014","journal-title":"Int J Sci Res"},{"key":"ref9","article-title":"Strategies for managing childhood obesity in primary schools in the Cape Coast Metropolis of Ghana","volume-title":"Asian J Contemp. Educ","author":"Whyte","year":"2020"},{"key":"ref10","first-page":"13","article-title":"The prevalence of childhood obesity and lifestyle-associated risk factors using anthropometric measurements among primary schools in the Kumasi metropolis, Ghana","volume":"4","author":"Obirikorang","year":"2015","journal-title":"Innovative J Med Health Sci"},{"key":"ref11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e0281639","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0281639","article-title":"Epidemiologic transition and the double burden of disease in Ghana: what do we know at the neighborhood level?","volume":"18","author":"Konkor","year":"2023","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"21","DOI":"10.1007\/s12098-013-0971-5","article-title":"Nutrition transition and its health outcomes","volume":"80","author":"Shetty","year":"2013","journal-title":"Indian J Pediatrics"},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"415","DOI":"10.3945\/ajcn.112.035378","article-title":"Effectiveness of preventive school-based obesity interventions in low-and middle-income countries: a systematic review","volume":"96","author":"Verstraeten","year":"2012","journal-title":"Am J Clin Nutr"},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2365","DOI":"10.3390\/nu14122365","article-title":"Methodological aspects in randomized clinical trials of nutritional interventions","volume":"14","author":"Mart\u00ednez-L\u00f3pez","year":"2022","journal-title":"Nutrients"},{"key":"ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2495","DOI":"10.1016\/j.dsx.2019.07.014","article-title":"School education and childhood obesity: a systemic review","volume":"13","author":"Nga","year":"2019","journal-title":"Diabetes Metab Syndr Clin Res Rev"},{"key":"ref16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-019-7425-6","article-title":"Effective health promoting school for better health of children and adolescents: indicators for success","volume":"19","author":"Lee","year":"2019","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3981","DOI":"10.3390\/nu15183981","article-title":"The role of teachers in addressing childhood obesity: a school-based approach","volume":"15","author":"Snelling","year":"2023","journal-title":"Nutrients"},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"105","DOI":"10.4314\/jsda.v18i2.23828","article-title":"Schools and health: a district-level evaluation of school health education in Ghana","volume":"18","author":"Adu-Mireku","year":"2003","journal-title":"Children"},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"55","DOI":"10.1093\/her\/cyad045","article-title":"Barriers to school-based health programs implementation in basic schools in Ghana: education stakeholders\u2019 perspective","volume":"39","author":"Adomako Gyasi","year":"2024","journal-title":"Health Educ Res"},{"key":"ref20","volume-title":"Statistical methods for rates and proportions","author":"Fleiss","year":"2013"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"A18","DOI":"10.1016\/j.clinthera.2012.12.014","article-title":"Childhood obesity: a review of increased risk for physical and psychological comorbidities","volume":"35","author":"Pulgar\u00f3n","year":"2013","journal-title":"Clin Ther"},{"key":"ref22","volume-title":"Mental health promotion in schools: a comprehensive theoretical framework","author":"Cavioni","year":"2020"},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"808","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-022-13210-z","article-title":"Educators\u2019 experiences and perspectives of child weight discussions with parents in primary school settings","volume":"22","author":"Coupe","year":"2022","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"ref24","first-page":"1","article-title":"Childhood obesity, a public health crisis: narrative review of public health interventions for childhood obesity","volume":"4","author":"Ali","year":"2016","journal-title":"J Universal Surgery"},{"key":"ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e20190331","DOI":"10.1590\/1980-265x-tce-2019-0331","article-title":"Childhood obesity in the perception of children, families and health and education professionals","volume":"30","author":"Baggio","year":"2021","journal-title":"Texto & Contexto-Enfermagem"},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.21744\/ijhs.v1i2.25","article-title":"Perception of parents, teachers, and nutritionist on childhood obesity and barriers to healthy behavior: a phenomenological study","volume":"1","author":"Suiraoka","year":"2017","journal-title":"Int J Health Sci"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-020-09988-5","article-title":"Non-communicable diseases among adolescents: current status, determinants, interventions and policies","volume":"20","author":"Akseer","year":"2020","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1155\/2020\/1907416","article-title":"Childhood obesity and overweight in Ghana: a systematic review and Meta-analysis","volume":"2020","author":"Akowuah","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Nut Metabol"},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"547","DOI":"10.1111\/obr.12277","article-title":"What childhood obesity prevention programmes work? A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"16","author":"Wang","year":"2015","journal-title":"Obes Rev"},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"95","DOI":"10.3390\/nu12010095","article-title":"School-based interventions targeting nutrition and physical activity, and body weight status of African children: a systematic review","volume":"12","author":"Adom","year":"2019","journal-title":"Nutrients"},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"261","DOI":"10.1109\/JTEHM.2023.3261899","article-title":"Promoting obesity prevention and healthy habits in childhood: the OCARIoT experience","volume":"11","author":"Bastida","year":"2023","journal-title":"IEEE J Trans Eng Health Med"},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"217","DOI":"10.1186\/s41043-024-00713-1","article-title":"Barriers and facilitators of school-based obesity prevention interventions: a qualitative study from the perspectives of primary school headteachers","volume":"43","author":"Saleh","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Health Popul Nutr"},{"key":"ref33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-019-7898-3","article-title":"Childhood obesity in urban Ghana: evidence from a cross-sectional survey of in-school children aged 5\u201316 years","volume":"19","author":"Ganle","year":"2019","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Public Health"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2025.1724617\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,3]],"date-time":"2025-12-03T06:32:39Z","timestamp":1764743559000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpubh.2025.1724617\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,3]]},"references-count":33,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpubh.2025.1724617"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpubh.2025.1724617","relation":{},"ISSN":["2296-2565"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2296-2565","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,12,3]]},"article-number":"1724617"}}