Improvements of Nutrition Behavior Fitness and Body Fatness with a Short-Term after School Intervention Program
The prevalence of
childhood obesity has been increasing worldwide and is due to complex
interactions between genetic and environmental factors such as dietary intake
and physical activity. For lifestyle changes are the most important strategies
in managing this prevalence, this study aimed to describe the intervention
effects of nutrition and physical activities offered as an after school
short-term on outcomes of healthy nutrition practices, fitness and lowering
fatness.
In this research, a
quasi-experimental study was conducted with a convenience sample of 59 Caucasian
children, aged 7.7 ± 1.4 years old (52.5% girls) registered on a private school
of a middle-size town located in Sao Paulo State, Brazil. The school-based
12-week intervention consisted of 2 weekly 60 minutes section, during 3 months,
including a nutritional education and a physical activity curriculum.
Anthropometric data was measured for all children at baseline and after 12
weeks. All parents were contacted and requested to complete questionnaire about
child’s eating behavior at baseline and after the 12-week program.
After the
intervention, children showed an increasing in the intake of fruits (64.3%),
vegetables (61.9%), and water (52.0%). Overall, 83.3% of the children changed
eating behavior according to the questionnaire responded by the parents. Waist
circumference was significantly lower and abdominal strength improved after
participating in the intervention program. Mean height and weight were
significantly higher in boys and girls after a 12-week intervention. Although
mean values of BMI remained the same after the intervention, it was observed a
decreasing in the prevalence of obesity among the children.
In conclusion, the study
showed that a school-based intervention program focused on nutritional
education and physical activity program promoted waist circumference reduction
and decreased obesity without affecting the height growth along with improved
fitness and healthy eating behavior. And this intervention program would be
feasible and replicable in others schools around the country.
Article by Katia Cristina Portero
McLellan, et al, from Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil.
Full access: http://mrw.so/3S6xvw
Image by M.
Hayden, from Flickr-cc.
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