The Effect of Nutritional and Physical Activity Interventions on Nutritional Status and Obesity in Primary School Children: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Study

Abstract

Objectives: Obesity is a major public health problem, alarming especially among children and adolescents. The aim of this study is to measure the effect of intervention on preventing and reducing obesity by teaching healthy nutritional behavior and physical activity among primary school children. Design: Randomized controlled study Setting: Two primary schools in Antalya City Center of Turkey Subjects: One thousand two hundred eighty-eight children (647 in intervention and 641 in control group) Intervention: One of the schools was selected as intervention group and the other as control. In the intervention group, children and their parents were involved in an education program of "healthy nutrition and active lifestyle" during one academic year (2008 - 2009). Main outcome measure(s): Weight status, body mass index, status of excercise, nutrition and education Results: Education on nutrition and physical activity prevented the students from being overweight and obesity (RR = 1.04; 95% CI = 1.01 - 1.06; p = 0.0025) especially in girls, and changed the overweight and obese students to normal weight status (RR = 1.88; 95% CI = 1.09 - 3.24; p = 0.0097). Intervention group students showed a significant improvement in nutritional behavior and Mediterranean Diet Quality Index for Children and Adolescent KIDMED) score p < 0.001). It was observed that majority of the variables related to the nutrition and physical activities were positively affected in the intervention group. Conclusion: Despite an improvement in a number of different variables in the intervention group in our study, the battle against obesity should not be considered as a short-term commitment. Detection of more visible results may require larger and longer-term studies in collaboration with different parties involved.