Evaluation of a school-based teen obesity prevention minimal intervention

A school-based nutrition education minimal intervention (MI) was evaluated.

The design was experimental, with random assignment at the school level.

Seven schools were randomly assigned as experimental, and 7 as delayed-treatment.

The experimental group included 551 teens, and the delayed treatment group included 329 teens.

The minimal intervention was Present and Prevent, a commercially available PowerPoint program presented in two 30-minute time slots over 1 week.

The dependent variables were nutrition knowledge, attitudes, peer and family influences, behavioral intentions, and program satisfaction. The independent variable was group assignment.

A matched-pairs and 2-sample t test were used respectively to assess within-group and between-group changes.

Significant experimental posttest improvements occurred in the following: knowledge (P < .001); intention to maintain a healthy body weight because of importance to friends (P < .001); and intention to eat fewer fried foods, eat fewer sweets, look more at food labels, and limit TV watching (all P < .001). Program satisfaction measures were significantly associated with each of the healthy weight maintenance behavioral intentions.

The MI teen obesity prevention program made an impact on nutrition knowledge and positive behavioral intentions in only 2 classroom sessions and was well received by participants.