Reducing Overweight through a Multidisciplinary School‐based Intervention

Abstract

SPIEGEL, SAMUEL A. AND DAVID FOULK. Reducing overweight through a multidisciplinary school-based intervention. Obesity. 2006;14:88 -96. Objective: This study sought to evaluate the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary elementary school-based intervention entitled Wellness, Academics & You. The primary areas of impact examined were BMI, consumption of fruits and vegetables, and physical activity. Research Methods and Procedures:The sample consisted of 1013 students in fourth and fifth grades from 69 classes in four states. Intervention and comparison classes were randomly selected at each school. Intervention teachers participated in workshops on the intervention and received program materials. BMI was calculated for baseline and post-data points based on measured height and weight collected by trained research teams. Baseline surveys were administered by the students' teacher in the presence of one of the research team members and collected. Results: SPSS (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, IL) analysis of postdata shows significant positive shifts (p ϭ 0.01) in BMI in the intervention group compared with the comparison group. Notable increases in the consumption of fruits and vegetables and increased physical activity levels were reported in the intervention group. Discussion: Data from this study indicate that this schoolbased program may contribute to the reduction of overweight and obesity. The intervention was well received by the classroom teachers and shows promise for a schoolbased obesity prevention initiative. This program has shown the capacity to effect positive changes in BMI through consumption of fruits and vegetables and physical activity.The evaluation covered a limited time period and, therefore, warrants additional studies to determine whether long-term program fidelity will result in continued improvement.

Estrategia de prevención de obesidad en escolares: Efecto de un programa aplicado a sus profesores (2007-2008)

“…La literatura muestra cada vez más que en las estrategias de prevención de obesidad a nivel escolar los profesores son claves 18,19 . Conviene, sin embargo, determinar previamente si están dispuestos a asumir ese rol 20 .…”

Integrative review: behavioral interventions for physical activity practice

“…The mean duration of interventions was 37.9(±23.3) weeks, with a minimum duration of 8 and a maximum of 72 weeks. The methodology was considered appropriate in 42.8% of the studies (10)(11)15,(19)(20) , considering criteria as viability, reproducibility, method clarity and application of instruments and objective measures; in 14.3%, the design of the steps was not clear, impeding reproducibility (13,16) ; and, in 28.6%, no criteria were mentioned for including/excluding subjects. In data analysis, parametric (42.8%) and variance and covariance (42.8%) models predominated.…”

“…The result of the intervention was not reported in 28.6% (n=4) of the studies (12,15,(18)(19) . In the eight studies in which the intervention was considered effective, the assessed outcome was increased PA frequency (75%, n=6) (9)(10)(11)14,16,20) , increased PA frequency associated with another behavior (7.1%; n=1) (17) and improved Quality of Life (QoL) and muscle force (7.1%; n=1) (14) . No negative effects of the interventions were reported on.…”

“…Instruments were frequently used to quantify the duration, intensity and frequency of PA. Most studies (64.3%) used biological markers, such as maximum oxygen consumption, serum cholesterol levels and body mass index (BMI) (7,11,(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)20) and half of them applied physical tests, such as load and walking tests (8,11,(14)(15)(17)(18)20) (Table 1). …”

“…The final sample consisted of 14 articles (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20) , in compliance with literature, which recommends that at least 30% of articles attending to the established inclusion criteria be included (5) .…”