Effect of class-based lifestyle intervention on the management of childhood obesity

Childhood obesity is prevalent in southern Taiwan and lifestyle interventions for the management of childhood obesity are challenging. How to overcome the barriers of implementation programs is crucial. We offered lunchtime education and integrated it into education programs. Finally, we evaluated whether such an intervention could change unhealthy behaviors and reduce obesity tendency among elementary students.

This was a prospective cohort study, conducted at an elementary school from September 2015 to July 2018. We distributed a lifestyle questionnaire to assess the students' dietary habits and physical activities before our intervention. We offered class-based interactive nutrition programs and record the behavior and weight change each semester. The body mass index (BMI) of the students were obtained each semester, and they were categorized as underweight, normal, overweight, and obese according to the age-specific BMI.

In total, 279 students were followed for 3 consecutive years. The most prevalent unhealthy dietary habit was the consumption of sweetened beverages in approximately 76% of the students. At the end of the study, the percentage of normal weight increased and the overall percentage of overweight/obesity decreased in both groups. At the end of the study, the BMI-time curve became flatter than that of Kaohsiung (regional) city and approached the national standard. It indicates that the increase in average BMI was effectively delayed with our intervention.

Lunchtime education is an innovative way to provide class-based education programs in school that yielded behavior changes and are effective approaches for delaying childhood obesity.