Assessing Moroccan physician knowledge and practices regarding maternal obesity's impact on childhood obesity: Implications for prevention and intervention

Table 1 Demographic data results

Parameter	Effective, n	Percentage (%)
Gender
Women	20	21.5
Men	73	78.5
Age range
30 yr or less	32	34.4
31-40 yr	29	31.2
41-50 yr	18	19.4
51-65 yr	32	34.4
66-75 yr	2	12.9
City of education medicine
Rabat	20	21.73
Casablanca	52	56.52
Fès	4	4.34
Marrakech	2	2.17
Oujda	1	1.08
Other	13	14.13
Status of participant
Resident/internal	4	4.30
Generalist	48	51.6
Specialist	39	41.93
Researcher/teacher	2	2
City of medical practice
Casablanca	49	51.61
Rabat	6	6.45
Other	38	40.86
Current specialty of participants
Generalist	48	52.17
Gynecology	18	19.35
Pediatrics	8	8.7
Labour doctor	7	7.60
Endocrinologist	2	2.15
Diabetology	1	1.07
Sports medicine	2	2.15
Resident	2	2.15
Nutritionist	2	2.15
Surgery	1	1.07
Length of practice
Less than 5 yr	28	30.10
5-10 yr	13	13.97
11-15 yr	9	9.67
16-20 yr	10	10.75
21-30 yr	23	24.73
31-40 yr	3	3.22
Over 40 yr	1	1075
Type of practice
University teaching	3	3.3
Private practice	42	46.7
Public hospital	38	42.2
Military hospital	1	1.1
Retired	1	1.1
Other	6	6.45

Table 2 Analysis of healthcare practices in the management of overweight pregnant women

Parameter	n	Percentage (%)
Number of pregnant women consulting overweight
Less than 10 per week	67	77.9
11 to 20 per week	14	16.3
21 to 50 per week	4	4.7
Over 50 per week	1	1.2
Do you suggest overweight pregnant women see a dietitian
Yes	63	76.8
No	19	23.2
Do you educate women about the risks of excessive weight gain during pregnancy
Yes	81	93.1
No	6	6.9
Are overweight women aware of the risks of overweight in their health and the health of their child
Yes	65	75.6
No	21	24.4
Are you sufficiently aware of the care of obese pregnant women
Yes	46	47.7
No	42	52.3

Table 3 Analysis of macrosomia rates and associated risk factors

Parameter	n	Percentage (%)
On average in a normal week, how many babies are born with macrosomia
Less than 10 per week	69	81.2
11 to 20 per week	14	16.5
21 to 50 per week	1	1.2
Over 50 per week	1	1.2
Select the risks factors that you think are scientifically associated with a risk of macrosomia
Maternal age	32	34.8
Parity	18	19.6
History of new born macrosomic	47	51,1
DT1	33	35.9
DT2	53	57.6
Gestational diabetes	66	71.7
Medical treatment	12	13
Maternal obesity	47	51.1
Obesity acquired during pregnancy	37	40.2
Fundal height	24	26.1
HTA	13	14.1
Term of pregnancy	15	16.3
Representation of the fetus	4	4.3
Newborn gender	4	4.3

HTA: Hypertension arterial; DT1: Type 1 diabetes; DT2: Type 2 diabetes.

Table 4 Maternal risk factors predictive of childhood obesity

Parameter	n	Percentage (%)
Which of the following risk factors do you think are scientifically associated with a risk of childhood obesity for the unborn child
Smoking during pregnancy	8	8.9
Excessive weight gain during pregnancy	51	56.7
Diabetes during pregnancy	69	76.7
Maternal overweight	51	56.7
Excess or defective foetal growth	20	22.2
Socio economic level of siblings	7	7.8
Birth rank	3	3.3
Gender	4	4.4
Maternal depression	28	31.1
Do you feel sufficiently aware of the management of pediatric obesity
Yes	54	62.8
No	32	37.2
Do you feel sufficiently aware of the effect of maternal overweight on pediatric obesity
Yes	43	48.3
No	46	51.7

Table 5 Childhood obesity management practices among healthcare professionals

Parameter	n	Percentage (%)
On an average week, how many obese children come to you
Less than 10 per week	73	93.6
11 to 20 per week	5	6.4
21 to 50 per week	0	0
Over 50 per week	2	12.9
What criteria and tools do you use to detect obesity in children
Clinical examination	37	45.7
Physical appearance	26	32.1
Weight and height	39	48.1
Balance	24	29.6
BMI > 30	39	48.1
Study of growth curve/chart	31	38.3
Weight and height curves	40	49.4
Weight/height ratio	22	27.2
What areas in the overall management of this child’s obesity seem essential to you
Nutrition and parenting	48	61.5
Family history, environment	23	29.5
Parent’s motivations	29	37.2
Child education	38	48.7
Children’s diet	40	51.3
Children’s physical activity	33	42.3
Psychological evaluation of	28	35.9
Child’s lifestyle	47	60.3
Children’s habits	25	32.1
History of childhood obesity	23	29.5
Child’s motivation	25	32.1
What network of partners would you be likely to mobilize in this care
Dietician	43	53.8
Nutritionist	47	58.8
Psychiatrist	21	26.3
Pediatrician	33	41.3
Endocrinologist	33	41.3
Sport educator	24	24
Physical education teacher	14	17.4
Multidisciplinary team	1	1.3
Parents and child	1	1.3
Prent first	1	1.3
Child psychiatrist	1	1.3
Have you received training in childhood obesity
Yes	7	9.1
No	67	87
If you were offered training in the management of childhood obesity, what topics would you like to see covered
Behavioral approaches/therapies	29	38.7
Psychotherapy	15	20
Psychological approach	16	16
Low calories diets	20	26.7
Nutrition	42	56
Ways to motivate children and parents	23	30.7
Preventive and educational methods	21	28
Request for treatment in specialized centers	9	12
Follow-up of childhood obesity in clinical cases	26	34.7
Clinical and metabolic consequences of obesity	17	22.7
Complications in obese children	19	25.3