A Study to Assess the Knowledge Regarding the Impact of Lifestyle on Non- Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Among Adolescents at Selected Professional Colleges in Palakkad District

Abstract

Lifestyle choices greatly impact adolescent health. The risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) can be increased by unhealthy eating habits, insufficient exercise, and increasing sedentary behaviour, which can have an impact on one's current and future health. The purpose of this study was to evaluate teenagers' understanding of how lifestyle choices affect non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and ascertain how these factors relate to particular sociodemographic factors. "What level of knowledge do adolescents have regarding the impact of lifestyle on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease?" was the research topic. Both a descriptive study design and a quantitative research approach were used. Convenience sampling was used to choose sixty teenagers from particular colleges in the Palakkad district. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to gather information about the impact of lifestyle on NAFLD. The results offer valuable information for developing health education programs for adolescents.
The results showed that 27% of teenagers had strong understanding, 63% had average knowledge, and 10% had poor knowledge about how lifestyle affects NAFLD. Knowledge level and educational stream were found to be statistically significantly correlated by the chi-square test (p < 0.05). Other chosen sociodemographic factors, such as gender, age, height, weight, wrist circumference, hip circumference, location of residence, religion, parental education, parental occupation, and monthly family income, did not significantly correlate with knowledge. The results show that the majority of teenagers had a mediocre understanding of how lifestyle choices affect NAFLD. Therefore, to encourage healthy lifestyles and avoid NAFLD in teenagers, organized health education and awareness programs that emphasize regular physical activity, a nutritious diet, and less sedentary behavior are advised.