Elementary Physical Education Teachers' Perceptions of Childhood Obesity

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess elementary school physical education teachers' perceptions of obesity and the schools' role in dealing with the problem. A random sample (N = 400) from the Council of Physical Education for Children was sent the questionnaire and 321 responded (80 percent). Internal reliability of the questionnaire was .67 and the stability reliability was .79. Respondents were almost unanimous (93 percent) in their beliefs that normal weight is very important to the health of children. Respondents also accurately perceived the etiology of childhood obesity. Physical education teachers believed they and school nurses were the school personnel who should play a major role in treating childhood obesity. However, the majority did not believe they were adequately prepared in college to design exercise programs for obese children, nor did they feel competent to do so. Seventy percent of the teachers did not believe schools were doing enough to alleviate childhood obesity, and they supported a number of school-based weight reduction techniques (i.e., comprehensive health curriculums, physical education classes which focus on lifelong fitness, special low calorie lunches, and special weight control programs). The three leading sources of information on weight control were physical education journals (73 percent), the mass media (59 percent), and past experience (49 percent). The questionnaire items also were examined based upon the various demographic variables, resulting in a number of significant (p <.05) findings.