School-Based Nutrition Education Intervention Improves Nutrition Knowledge and Lipid Profile among Overweight/Obese Children

Phyllis Addo,Obed Akwaa Harrison,Alex Kojo Anderson,Eric Adua,Rose Otema Baah,Matilda Steiner-Aseidu

doi:10.5539/gjhs.v9n10p109

Abstract

Many children in Ghana do not meet the dietary and physical activity recommendations for their health due to several reasons including limited nutrition education intervention (NEI) programmes. NEI provides children with information on knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) required to ensure proper dietary intake and physical activity. In this intervention study, we recruited eighty (80) overweight and obese students aged 11-15 years from two schools in the Ga-East municipality of Ghana. Anthropometric, biochemical, dietary and physical activity information were collected on the two groups before and after three months of NEI. Between group comparisons (test and control); before and after interventions were performed using student t-tests. It was shown that NEI improved nutrition knowledge (mean change = 5.13, p<0.01), attitude (mean change = 2.75, p<0.01) but not practice (mean change = -1.42, p<0.05) in overweight and obese children. Although anthropometric indicators did not improve with NEI, serum lipid profile of participants improved as indicated by the following mean changes: TC [-1.22, 95%CI (-1.90 -0.55)] mg/dL, HDL-c [-0.19, 95% CI (-0.38, 0.00)] mg/dL, LDL-c [-0.90, 95%CI (-1.52, -0.28)] mg/dL and TG [(-0.66, 95%CI (-1.23, -0.09)] mg/dL. Our findings show that NEI undertaken within a relatively short period of time could have positive effects on lipid profile, knowledge and attitudes of school children, and in turn, promote the fight against childhood obesity, and improve the health and wellbeing of children.

Highlights

One in every ten school-aged children and adolescents are overweight or obese; a total of 155 million
Anthropometric indicators did not improve with nutrition education intervention (NEI), serum lipid profile of participants improved as indicated by the following mean changes: total cholesterol (TC) [-1.22, 95%CI (-1.90 -0.55)] mg/dL, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) [-0.19, 95% CI (-0.38, 0.00)] mg/dL, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) [-0.90, 95%CI (-1.52, -0.28)] mg/dL and TG [(-0.66, 95%CI (-1.23, -0.09)] mg/dL
Our findings show that NEI undertaken within a relatively short period of time could have positive effects on lipid profile, knowledge and attitudes of school children, and in turn, promote the fight against childhood obesity, and improve the health and wellbeing of children

Summary

Introduction

One in every ten school-aged children and adolescents are overweight or obese; a total of 155 million Of this number, 30–45 million are obese; which constitutes 2-3% of the world’s children aged 5–17 years (Lobstein et al, 2004). 30–45 million are obese; which constitutes 2-3% of the world’s children aged 5–17 years (Lobstein et al, 2004) Many of these children and adolescents live in low-to middle income countries like Ghana. Among the estimated 72% of students who consume fruits and vegetables at least once a day, only 20% meet the recommended servings (Global School-based Health Survey, 2008). Alongside these factors, obesity is triggered by physical inactivity. Reports from the Regenerative Health and Nutrition Programme in Ghana show that two out of every three children have insufficient physical activity (Regenerative Health and Nutrition Programme, 2007)

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion