ERIC Number: EJ1190911
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018
Pages: 7
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1932-5037
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
School-Based Intervention to Promote a Healthy Lifestyle and Obesity Prevention among Fifth- and Sixth-Grade Children
Aperman-Itzhak, Tal; Yom-Tov, Anat; Vered, Zvi; Waysberg, Ronit; Livne, Irit; Eilat-Adar, Sigal
American Journal of Health Education, v49 n5 p289-295 2018
Background: Children's overweight and obesity have increased in Western societies, including Israel. Childhood is an important time for shaping healthy habits. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a healthy lifestyle intervention on health knowledge, behavior, and anthropometric measurements. Methods: A total of 396 fifth- and sixth-grade children, from 2 religious and 2 secular schools, participated in a nonrandomized controlled trial during the 2011--2012 school year. Intervention group were given an extensive educational program focusing on eating habits and physical activity. Results: Overweight and obesity decreased significantly within the intervention group (from 25% to 17.9%, P = 0.04), without a significant change in the control group (from 20.5% to 17.6%, P = 0.12). Religious children had double the risk of being overweight or obese (odds ratio [OR] = 2.10; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15-3.73; P = 0.02). Knowledge was improved in both study groups (P < 0.01), with no difference in health behavior scores at the beginning (P = 0.59) or end (P = 0.36) of the year. Discussion: Health Education during fifth and sixth grades improved children's weight and health knowledge but not healthy behavior. Translation to Health Education Practice: School-based healthy lifestyle educational programs are important for primary prevention and weight management. A AJHE Self-Study quiz is online for this article via the SHAPE America Online Institute (SAOI) http://portal.shapeamerica.org/trn-Webinars.
Descriptors: Prevention, Obesity, Intervention, Health Behavior, Life Style, Foreign Countries, Eating Habits, Physical Activity Level, At Risk Students, Religious Education, Institutional Characteristics, Control Groups, Experimental Groups, Scores, Grade 5, Grade 6, Body Composition, Program Effectiveness, Health Education
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Grade 5
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Israel
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A