Evaluation of the Web-Based Computer-Tailored FATaintPHAT Intervention to Promote Energy Balance Among Adolescents

Abstract

To evaluate the short-and long-term results of FATaintPHAT, a Web-based computer-tailored intervention aiming to increase physical activity, decrease sedentary behavior, and promote healthy eating to contribute to the prevention of excessive weight gain among adolescents.Design: Cluster randomized trial with an intervention group and a no-intervention control group.Setting: Twenty schools in the Netherlands.Participants: A total of 883 students (aged 12-13 years). Intervention:The FATaintPHAT (VETisnietVET in Dutch) Web-based computer-tailored intervention.Outcome Measures: Self-reported behaviors (diet, physical activity, sedentary behavior) and pedometer counts were measured at baseline and at 4-month and 2-year follow-up; body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and fitness were measured at baseline and at 2-year follow-up. Descriptive and multilevel regression analyses were conducted among the total study population and among students not meeting behavioral recommendations at baseline (students at risk).Results: The complete case analyses showed that FATaintPHAT had no effect on BMI and waist circumference. However, the intervention was associated with lower odds (0.54) of drinking more than 400 mL of sugarsweetened beverages per day and with lower snack intake (␤ = −0.81 snacks/d) and higher vegetable intake (␤=19.3 g/d) but also with a lower step count (␤=−10 856 steps/wk) at 4-month follow-up. In addition, among students at risk, FATaintPHAT had a positive effect on fruit consumption (␤=0.39 g/d) at 4-month follow-up and on step count (␤=14 228 steps/wk) at 2-year follow-up but an inverse effect on the odds of sports participation (odds ratio, 0.45) at 4-month follow-up. No effects were found for sedentary behavior. Conclusion:The FATaintPHAT intervention was associated with positive short-term effects on diet but with no effects or unfavorable effects on physical activity and sedentary behavior.

Effectiveness of school–home intervention for adolescent obesity prevention: parallel school randomised study

“…This pragmatic school trial combining teacher-delivered primary prevention of obesity at school and secondary prevention at household led by CHA showed a small, statistically significant increase in physical activity and a small change in the overall intake of healthy food without the expected impact in BMI or %body fat. These findings are consistent with other studies conducted in adolescents suggesting no positive effect of behaviour intervention on BMI change (24)(25)(26) .…”

Evaluation of the Computer-Based Intervention Program Stayingfit Brazil to Promote Healthy Eating Habits: The Results from a School Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial

“…In turn, no differences in the observed anthropometric parameters were observed, after adjustment of the estimates by confounding factors. These results are consistent other universal prevention programs interventions which have also failed to find changes in BMI and other adiposity measurements in adolescents [15,16].…”

“…Although they are modest, our findings corroborate the positive effect of similar web-based strategies on reducing the consumption of sugary drinks [15]. Ezendam and colleagues (2012) showed that the FATaintPHAT intervention conducted with Dutch adolescents was associated with a lower likelihood (OR = 0.54, 95% CIs = 0.34 to 0.88) of consuming more than 400 mL of sugary drinks per day during the first 4 months of follow-up.…”

Efetividade De Programas De Intervenção Para Obesidade Com Base Em Orientações Para Escolares Adolescentes: Revisão Sistemática

“…They also stated that such interventions can help maintain body weight and behavioral change. These studies corroborate the finding of ours, in which the interventions were found to succeed in causing positive changes in life habits by increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables, as well as the levels of physical activity or exercises, 19 , 22 , 24 , 27 reducing the number of meals ignored, intake of calories, fats, snacks and sugary drinks, 19 , 20 , 27 and also screen time 21 . To obtain such result, studies used different methods of intervention.…”