0107

SCHOOL-BASED INTERVENTION FOR OBESE CHILDREN
Jiang Jingxiong, Xia Xiulan, Tan Zangwen, Song Xiaofang, Wang Li, Wu Guangchi, Guo Suyi, Yan Guifeng
Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China

Objective: To evaluate the impact of a school-based intervention program to childhood obesity and to reduce the prevalence of obesity among school children.
Methods: Two intervention and three control primary schools were selected from Beijing urban district, randomly, to attend the field trial. All the children (3715 students, grade 1 to 6) from these 5 schools were involved the study and there were 1597 in intervention schools (intervention group) and 2118 in control schools (control group), respectively. The children from 2 intervention schools participated in a school-based intervention program over 3 school years (from 1997 to 2000). The program included health education, exercise, and dietary adjustment. The program focused on decreasing consumption of high-caloric foods and increasing fruit and vegetable intake in supper, and decreasing sedentary time. Obesity was defined by WHO standard weight for height. Outcomes were assessed using preintervention and follow-up measures.
Results: The prevalence of obesity among the children in intervention group was reduced from 16.9% to 12.1% over the 3 school years intervention periods. The obesity prevalence among the children in control group increased from 17.4% to 23.2% over the 3 school years. The prevalence of obesity in intervention group was significantly lower than control group after intervention. Among the children in intervention group, 3.6% of no-obese children became too obese and 59.1% of obese children remained obese over the 3 school years intervention periods. During the same 3 years, 11.9% of no-obese children became too obese and 92.2% of obese children remained obese among the children in control group. The obesity incidence was significantly less for the children who were no-obese in intervention than control group (odds ratio, 0.276, 95% confidence interval, 0.127-0.443, P<0.01). The percent of obesity maintenance was significantly greater for the children who were obese in control vs intervention group (OR, 0.122, 95%CI, 0.062-0.240, P<0.01).
Conclusion: The school-based intervention program was suitable and effective in school, and reduced prevalence of obesity significantly among school children.