Knowledge and Attitudes Towards Obesity and Bariatric Surgery in University Students: a National Survey

Obesity has become a noticeable public health problem, especially in the young population. Bariatric surgery is growing in China but it is still new to the general public. Knowledge and attitudes towards obesity and bariatric surgery in university students are important to national health decision-making.

To study the knowledge and attitudes towards obesity and bariatric surgery among Chinese university students.

A self-designed questionnaire was distributed to university students to fill in online from June to July 2021.

A total of 3199 questionnaires were received, with an effective rate of 98.58% (3154 questionnaires). 65.44% of whom had normal BMI and 12.14% of whom were overweight or in obesity. More than 80% of them had a high knowledge of the common causes and complications of obesity but lacked knowledge of the relationship between obesity and bone and joint, tumor or cancer, and reproductive diseases. 51.55% of them thought they needed to lose weight, especially female students (P < 0.01). Only 39% had regular physical exercise habits, 58.62% of them could reasonably control their diet, and more than 2/3 of them (67.82%) often stayed up late. Safety (29.77%) and effectiveness (29.3%) of bariatric surgery were not well accepted. Among medical students, education positively affected knowledge and attitudes towards bariatric surgery (P < 0.05). Mass media and social platforms were the main sources for obtaining obesity and weight-loss information.

Chinese university students have insufficient knowledge of obesity and related complications, lack of scientific management of their own weight, and poor acceptance of bariatric surgery. More education is needed on this issue.