“Effectiveness of a School-Based Intervention to Promote Healthy Behaviors and Prevent Weight Gain in Mexican Children”

Abstract

Purpose

To assess the effectiveness of a school-based intervention to promote healthy behaviors and prevent weight gain in children.

Design

Cluster randomized trial.

Setting

Seven elementary schools from Mexico.

Participants

475 children aged 8 to 12 years.

Intervention

It was called “Family Particip-Action to prevent childhood obesity”, which was implemented under PRECEDE-PROCEDE model, and using two pedagogical strategies: socio-constructivist and social ecological model. Thirty theoretical-practical workshops on healthy diet were performed, and physical activity (PA) practice was encouraged by sportive tournaments.

Methods

Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), index of key healthy foods, PA and family function were assessed. The effect of the improvement of diet on the risk reduction of overweight, obesity, overweight/obesity, and abdominal obesity were estimated with generalized linear models with binomial log-linear regressions.

Results

BMI and WC of children exposed to health promotion intervention were significantly lower after 24 months of intervention than control group: −1.2 kg/m² (P = 0.014) and −5.6 cm (P = 0.000), respectively. Children intervened and categorized into the healthiest diet reduced the risk of overweight by 31% (P = 0.032), obesity by 54% (P = 0.007), overweight/obesity by 35% (P = 0.001), and abdominal obesity by 41% (P = 0.002), comparing to control group.

Conclusion

The combined effect of encouraging healthy food consumption, sportive tournaments, healthful school environment, and family support, can reduce the risk of weight gain in children.