Targeting Lifestyle Intervention for Obesity Control Among School Age Children
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- Category: Vol. 78, March 2010
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Targeting Lifestyle Intervention for Obesity Control Among School Age Children,NEBAL A.R. ABOUL ELLA, SABAH S.E. SHARKAWY, NEHAL A.L. ALLAM and EMAN A.F. ALI
Abstract
Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of lifestyle educa-tion program for control of obesity among school age children.
Methods: The study was carried out at the Obesity Out-patient Clinic of Pediatric Hospital, Ain Shams University. A purposive sample included 77 overweight and obese children from both sexes, their mean age was 8.9±1.8 years. For data collection four types of predesigned questionnaires had been used to collect personal data (age, sex, ranking, educational level, and children's knowledge regarding obesity). The second questionnaire to collect data on anthropometric measurement (weight, height, BMI and measurement of waist circumfer-ence). The third one was to assess the children's attitude regarding obesity and the fourth one was guiding package which was prepared by the researchers in a simple Arabic language according to children's assessment and needs to control obesity. It has been applied in sessions.
Results: The study revealed that only 11.7% of children had satisfactory knowledge regarding obesity at the pre educational instructions compared to 62.3% at the post inter-vention with statistical significant differences. Regarding the children's attitude toward obesity, 36.4% of children had positive attitude at the pre educational instructions compared to 51.9% at the post intervention but with insignificant statis-tical differences.
Conclusion: The majority of children had unsatisfactory knowledge regarding obesity which was significantly improved after the implementation of educational instructions. Educa-tional level of children affect positively the improvement of their knowledge and their attitude regarding obesity. Appro-priate education should be provided in nursery schools, schools and community health centers concerning children's healthy eating habits and physical activities. Further studies should be conducted to include mothers to improve their knowledge and change their false beliefs about life style and negative attitude toward obesity.