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Does health education affect BMI? Evidence from a school-based randomised-control trial
Toni Mora1, Esteve Llargués2, Assumpta Recasens2
1Universitat Internacional de Catalunya & IEB, Spain.
Economics and Human Biology
|December 9, 2014
Summary
A school-based health education program effectively reduced childhood obesity. Four years post-intervention, children
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Nutrition Science
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a significant public health concern.
- School-based interventions are crucial for addressing obesity in children.
- Long-term evaluation of such programs provides valuable insights.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the long-term effects of a school-based health education program on childhood obesity.
- To assess the impact of healthy habit promotion in the curriculum.
- To analyze the effectiveness of the intervention in an urban Spanish setting.
Main Methods:
- A randomized controlled trial involving 509 six-year-old schoolchildren in Granollers, Spain.
- Intervention group received a comprehensive health education program; control group did not.
- Anthropometric measurements collected at baseline and follow-up points (2008, 2010, 2012).
Main Results:
- A reduction in Body Mass Index (BMI) of 1.13 kg/m(2) was observed in the intervention group four years after the program.
- This BMI reduction corresponds to an average weight loss of 1.6 kg.
- The intervention's positive effects were more pronounced in children from disadvantaged backgrounds, with no significant gender differences.
Conclusions:
- School-based health education programs can lead to sustained reductions in childhood obesity.
- Targeted interventions may be particularly effective for vulnerable populations.
- Longitudinal studies are essential for understanding the lasting impact of health promotion initiatives.
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