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School Nurse Article Summary
This article goes over research done to evaluate the effectiveness of a 12-month
multicomponent obesity prevention intervention targeting 6-8-year-old low-income
children. The intervention focused on training teachers to provide nutrition education
and enhance the quality of physical education classes. Utilizing a randomized controlled
design with five interventions and four control schools, the study evaluated changes in
various parameters, including nutrition knowledge, nutritional status, duration of PE
classes, and time spent doing moderate to vigorous activity.
Results showed a slight increase in obesity prevalence among boys in both
intervention and control schools, while girls in intervention schools exhibited a decrease
in obesity prevalence compared to an increase in control schools. Notably, the duration
of PE classes remained stable in intervention schools but decreased in control schools.
Additionally, nutrition education efforts showed promising outcomes, with children in
intervention schools demonstrating improvements in healthy snack choices brought
from home and enhanced knowledge of healthy eating, contrasting control schools who
remained unchanged. While the multi-component intervention effectively managed
obesity, particularly among boys, it did not entirely prevent it, underscoring the necessity
of sustained school-based interventions integrated into the curriculum for long-term
success. In summary, although the research was conducted outside the U.S., it shows
insight into the validity of these interventions.
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References
Kain, J., Concha, F., Moreno, L., & Leyton, B. (2014). School-based obesity prevention
intervention in Chilean children: effective in controlling, but not reducing obesity.
Journal of Obesity.
https://linkgalecom.library.collin.edu/apps/doc/A421211851/AONE?u=txshracd24
97&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=b5a61b85