The effect of nutrition education course on awareness of obese and overweight female 1st-year High School students of Isfahan based on transtheoretical model of behavioral change.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIM:Today, the problem of obesity is a chronic condition that affects all age groups in developed and developing countries. Since adolescence is a transitional period and behavioral patterns formed in this period affect people in their adult years, attention to obesity and extra weight in this age group is more important than other groups. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effects of nutrition education course on awareness of female 1st-year high school students of Isfahan based on transtheoretical model ( TTM) of behavioral change.MATERIALS AND METHODS:In this semi-empirical study, 64 female 1st-year high school students with weight problem were selected using nonpercent stratified sampling and divided into two control and test groups. Data gathering was carried out using researcher-made nutrition awareness and stages of change questionnaire whose validity and reliability was confirmed. Participants in the test group participated in a 2-month education with sessions every 2 weeks and received one brochure and 3 educational massages each week. Data were analyzed using independent t-test and Mann–Whitney test.RESULTS:The results showed that the average nutrition awareness score of students in test group was significantly higher than control group after intervention. Students in test group were also in higher stages of change compared to control group after intervention.CONCLUSION:The results show that TTM was effective in changing nutritional behavior in students.