Effectiveness of school based educational intervention for healthy body mass index and its association with academic performance among school children: a quasi-experimental study

Abstract

Background: Childhood obesity is associated with a higher chance of premature death and disability in adulthood, according to the World Health Organization. More than two-thirds of the adolescents aged 11-17 years are physically inactive in India as per WHO standards. Hence, school based Healthy life style curriculum development is the need of the hour for school children. The objectives of the study were to promote healthy lifestyle, by implementing school based intervention program (physical activity and nutrition education) for healthy body mass index among school children; to study the correlation between the body mass index and academic performance (secondary objective).Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted in the randomly selected schools of Bagalkot. A total of 598 students in intervention group and 575 students in control group participated in the study. Baseline information about demographic characteristics was obtained using pre-designed proforma. For intervention group, multicomponent programme was implemented based on child and adolescent trial for cardiovascular health model and the comprehensive school health programme model by the USA, centre for disease control. After 2 years, post-interventional data was collected.Results: In pre-test intervention group majority of participants (37.4%) were having normal BMI, while 26.8% participants were obese. In post-test intervention group majority of participants (45.7%) were having normal BMI, while 23.1% participants were obese. In pre-test control group majority of participants (34.7%) were having normal BMI, while 27.1% participants were obese. In post-test control group majority of participants (38.7%) were having normal BMI, while 26.4% participants were obese. Majority of the students attained normal BMI after the intervention. BMI of the participants is negatively correlated to academic performance (r=-0.025).Conclusions: The life style changes such as physical activity, yoga and meditation are the need of the hour among the schoolchildren, helps in maintenance of healthy BMI.