| This study determines if the health and physical education teachers in an urban Pennsylvania high school have positive or negative attitudes toward obese individuals and the factors that contribute to obesity. It also uncovers how they feel about the school setting as the primary location for combating obesity through prevention programs. Methodology: Data was collected using three survey instruments: a demographic survey, the Attitudes Toward Obese Persons Scale (ATOP) and the Attitudes Toward Obesity Issues (ATOI) survey. Analysis included descriptive statistics and correlations between factors in the three instruments. Results: The BMIs of majority of the male HPE teachers fell into the category of overweight, while most of the female HPE teachers were categorized as normal weight. The participants responded similarly to most of the ATOI statements, at 81-100% unanimity for agreement or disagreement, with the exception of one statement. Results for statement 14 of the ATOI found forty-nine percent of HPE teachers agree that high school would be the ideal place to address obesity. Twenty-seven percent disagreed and 24 percent were unsure. The mean ATOP score was 66. Thirty-five percent of the respondents received scores indicating negative attitudes toward obese persons, ATOP < 60. The median score was 68. Conclusion: There was no profile discovered for a HPE teacher who would express negative attitudes toward obese adolescents. Urban high school HPE teachers respond similarly to many statements about obesity issues, however they are diverse in their responses about high school being the ideal place to address obesity. |
