Ajzen's Theory Of Planned Behavior

Obesity is a medical condition resulting from the accumulation of excess fat in the human body to the extent that it might have great harm effects on the human health by increasing the diseases lowering the average life expectancy (Mahmood, 2015). Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behavior maintains that an individual’s behavior can be predicted based on attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and especially, intentions (Pickett, etal., 2012). Main causes of childhood obesity can include any of the following: Behavior, Media, and Socioeconomic factors. The developmental and socioeconomic literature speculate that for centuries, body image was used as a judgment of socioeconomic status and cultural opinions. Being overweight was often
considered to be a sign of good health and richness and slenderness was a sign of poverty. Unlike America, nowadays, this image has been reversed for some developing population’s still value fatness highly favorable. Recent studies show decreasing rates in activity levels of children over the last decade. Schools have changed their physical education programs to less strenuous activity, which causes children to be in an inactive environment in their day. Due to the lack of activity, many children are unable to burn the needed amount of calories they take in to sustain a healthy weight. In essence, one could suggest that behaviors taught in schools are reflective at home. Children could be more likely to go home and play on a video game versus go home and play outside after being at school in a classroom all day. Watching television, using the computer, and playing video games occupy a large percentage of children’s leisure time, influencing their activity levels (Bishop, etal., 2005)