The Effect of Diet-Exercise Trainings Provided to Overweight and Obese Teenagers through Creative Drama on Their Knowledge, Attitude, and Behaviors.

Abstract

This study was conducted in Turkey as an empirical study in randomized, controlled, and time series design for the purpose of evaluating the effects of the Diet-Exercise trainings with creative drama method provided to overweight/obese teenagers. This study was designed to highlight the effect of interactive education provided to slightly overweight/obese teenagers through creative drama on modifiable factors that caused obesity. Seventy-six overweight/obese teenagers studying at sixth and seventh grades of upper primary education were included in the study (38 participants in the Study Group and 38 participants in the Control Group). Training courses that were designed based on creative drama method were implemented in five sessions with teenager groups (n = 12-13); and the mothers were also trained in a session in this study (for the Study Group). At the end of the study, it was determined that the knowledge, attitude, the order of the meals, and healthy diet-exercise behavior points of the teenagers in the Study Group increased; and the difference between the Study Group and the Control Group was significant (p < 0.05). The BMI, body weight, and waist/height rate of the teenagers in the Study Group decreased at a significant level after the study was completed (p < 0.05); and significant increases were determined in the waist circumference and body weight measurements of the Control Group (p < 0.05). As a conclusion, overweight/obese teenagers may be reached with school-based educational programs, and they may be made to acquire positive attitudes and behaviors through diet and exercises designed with interactive methods like creative drama.