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Assessment of changes in anthropometric measures, and dietary and physical activity behaviors in children receiving school-based obesity intervention
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Assessment of changes in anthropometric measures, and dietary and physical activity behaviors in children receiving school-based obesity intervention

Brianna D. Higgins
Master of Science (M.S.), Drexel University
Jun 2016
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-6812
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Abstract

Nutrition Pediatric Obesity School Health Services
Multi-component childhood obesity interventions in community-based settings show promise as being effective strategies to prevent childhood obesity, especially in schools, since no other institution has as much contact time with children. The present study aims to evaluate how effectively a three-pronged school-based childhood obesity intervention, related to nutrition, physical activity and preventive health, may positively affect measures of weight status and health behaviors. Thirteen public, parochial and charter schools in Greater Philadelphia area (Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties) were included in this school-based childhood obesity intervention. Recruited schools were categorized into Intervention schools (Core and Level 1 schools) and Control schools, in which the categorizations varied based on the dosage of the intervention received. Anthropometric measures and self-reported dietary intake and physical activity behaviors were taken on all 5th grade students at baseline, at the beginning of the 2014 to 2015 school year, and follow-up, at the end of the 2014 to 2015 school year. Non-parametic Kruskall-Wallis and Mann-Whitney analyses were conducted. In total, 269 5th grade students participating in this intervention were identified as overweight or obese at the beginning of the school year. Though body mass index (BMI) z-score slightly decreased in this population over the school year, no significant changes were found in difference of BMI z-score and waist circumference over the school year. Cross-sectional analyses indicated that at, follow-up, children in Level 1 schools consumed vegetables other than green salad significantly more frequently than Core and Control schools (P=0.002 and P=0.001, respectively), and consumed soda significantly less frequently than Core and Control schools (P<0.001 for both Core and Control schools). Furthermore, at follow-up, it was found that males had a significantly higher number of days in which they participated in 60 minutes of physical activity than females (P<0.001). At baseline and follow-up, non-Hispanic Black students consumed soda significantly more times per week than non-Hispanic White students (P<0.001, both). Although this school-based intervention may not have led to significant decreases in BMI z-score or waist circumferences over one year in overweight and obese children in 5th grade, a longer term intervention may provide positive changes in these measures.

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