[Effect of dietary therapy in a school health program for obese children]

The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a health education program based on nutritional treatment for control of obesity. The study site was the public elementary school system which was selected because of easier implementation and effectiveness of the program. The subjects were chosen from public elementary schools in Morioka (5 out of 33) who were either 4th or 5th graders with an obesity level of 30% or above. Fifty students agreed to participate (35 boys and 15 girls) and all had parental consent. They were placed on a restricted diet of low carbohydrate and high protein for three months. Before and after the three month dietary program, level of obesity were measured. This study produced the following results: 1. After education the caloric level as well as the three main elements of nutrition were clearly decreased in both boys and girls. Nutrient intakes were in the appropriate range of recommended allowances for boys but both energy level and iron were less than the appropriate amount for girls. A decrease in carbohydrates energy and an increase in protein was observed for both boys and girls. 2. The intake of selected foods such as rice, wheat, snacks, fats and oils, decreased dramatically for both boys and girls. 3. This diet and exercise treatment program was very effective because obesity level dropped to 10.4% for boys and 7.5% for girls.