Weight-control training-models for obese pupils in Bangkok

The increased prevalence of obese children in schools in Bangkok from 12.7 to 14.3 per cent between 1986-1987, and the health risk of obesity of cardiovascular diseases, requires effective training models for behavior modification. The effects of 4 training models: problem-solving, lecturing, lecturing + reward and self-learning developed by the researchers, on the changes of knowledge and weight/height of 90 obese pupils, were compared with those of other 20 obese pupils in the control group. The comparison of height, weight and weight/height, including knowledge of the obese pupils, before training, between training and control groups, showed no significant difference. At the end of the 3-month training period, pupils' knowledge of obesity had increased significantly by all training models, without any difference among groups. The change of weight during the training period showed no significant difference, both within and among groups, except within the lecturing + reward group which had decreased significantly. At the end of 6 months' follow-up, the increase of weight/height (after-before), differed significantly, both within and among groups, with the highest increase in the control group, followed by self-learning, lecturing, problem-solving, and lecturing + reward. The weight-increase that had not differed significantly, was found in the problem-solving group only. If the percentages of the obese pupils whose weight/height were reduced, were considered, the highest reduction was in the problem-solving (31.8%), lecturing (28.6%), lecturing + reward (22.7%), and self-learning (20%). There was no obese pupil in the control group whose weight/height was reduced, throughout the study.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)