Abstract
BackgroundObesity is a chronic low-intensity state of inflammation with metabolic alterations that, when acquired during childhood, lead to severe illness in adults. Encouraging healthy eating habits and physical activity is the basis for preventing and treating obesity and its complications.ObjectiveTo evaluate how a comprehensive intervention promoting healthy eating habits and physical activities in schools affects children’s metabolic biomarkers.MethodsOf four Mexico City primary schools in this study, two groups of children that were recruited at their schools were assigned to a 12-month intervention group (IG) and the other two were assigned to control groups (CGs). The intervention had two components: (1) parents/schoolchildren attended in-person educational sessions promoting healthy eating and physical activity habits, and were provided printed information; and (2) parents were able to seek information through a website, and also received brief weekly mobile phone text messages. Anthropometric measurements and fasting blood samples were taken from both groups of children at baseline and again after 12 months.ResultsThe study involved 187 children in the IG and 128 in the CG. Regardless of each child's nutritional status at the beginning of the study, the intervention improved metabolic parameters; the IG showed a negative effect on glucose concentrations (–1.83; CI 95% –3.06 to -0.60), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (–2.59; CI 95% –5.12 to –0.06), insulin (–0.84; CI 95% –1.31 to –0.37), and homeostasis model to assess the insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR; –0.21; CI 95% –0.32 to –0.09) in comparison to the CG. HOMA-IR improved in children who had higher than baseline body mass index z-scores.ConclusionsIntervention through multiple components that promoted healthier eating and physical activity habits improved the metabolic parameters of the children in the study after one year, regardless of their nutritional status.
Highlights
Over the last 25 years, the prevalence of overweight and obese persons has become a worldwide public health issue [1,2]
As described by Vilchis-Gil et al [23], this study took place in two public and two private Mexico City elementary schools located in the same geographic area, which were selected for convenience and for their approximately similar number of students. Two of these schools were assigned to intervention activities and two of these schools were used as control groups (CGs)
Of all the children participating in the study, 82.7% (187/226) of intervention group (IG) children and 70.7% (128/181) of CG children gave baseline blood samples (Figure 1); 68.5% (128/187) of IG children and 64.8% (83/128) of CG children gave blood samples at the end of the 12-month study
Summary
Over the last 25 years, the prevalence of overweight and obese persons has become a worldwide public health issue [1,2]. Adults and children have changed their eating and physical activity habits. Foods and beverages have become energy dense and high in saturated fats and refined carbohydrates, and these nutrients present cardiovascular risk factors [5,6,7]; consumption of fresh fruits, vegetables, and water has diminished [8]. Both children and adults have become less physically active and spend more time on sedentary activities [9,10]. Encouraging healthy eating habits and physical activity is the basis for preventing and treating obesity and its complications
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