School-Based Obesity Prevention Intervention in Chilean Children: Effective in Controlling, but not Reducing Obesity
Table 1
Brief description of the main components of the intervention (2011-2012).
August–November 2011
March–November 2012
Data collection (1) Anthropometry: weight and height of all children kindergarten-2nd grade
(N = 1474), mean age, 6.6 (1.07) y with trained and standardized nutritionists. (2) Children’s knowledge on healthy eating (1st and 2nd grades) Validated questionnaire including 8 items based on figures N = 266 children Training in 5 intervention schools (1) Two nutritionists trained teachers from kindergarten-3rd grade on the correct application of the contents of a special booklet [4] that includes 8 sessions of 90 min each on health eating for the children (6 hrs of training) N = 38 teachers (2) Teachers of PE classes from 1st–3rd grade were trained (6 hrs) by a specialist on the use of a book. [5] containing a leaflet for each class which includes drawings of different exercises recommended to increase MVA (N = 12 teachers) (3) Training of kiosk owners (4 hrs) using a book which shows how to gradually offer 80% of healthy foods (N = 8 owners).
Data collection: children 1st–3rd grade or mean age 7.7 (1.2) y (1) In 43 classes (from a total of 55) we collected, during one day in April and one in October, data on the types of foods children brought to school Data collected had to be anonymous (N = 592 and 431 children in intervention and control schools, respectively, in April and 577 and 411 in October) (2) We assessed 2 aspects of PE classes during each semester: effective class time and 4 curricular aspects related to the class (3) We determined the % of time children engaged in MVA with pedometers placed on all children during 8 PE class (N = 482 and 155 intervention and control children, resp.) (4) We determined during 8 visits how well teachers in intervention schools implemented the nutrition education program (N = 25 teachers) (5) We repeated the application of the questionnaire measuring children’s knowledge on healthy eating (6) We collected the weight and height of the children that were evaluated 14 months before
Parents During one regular school meeting, the study nutritionist briefly explained in every class the objectives of the program and specifically the types and combination of snacks considered to be “healthy”
Training teachers of children 1st–3rd grade At the beginning of the school year we repeated the training process for newly hired teachers (3 teachers for healthy eating and 1 for physical education (6 hrs each) Parents of children 1st–3rd grade Twice during the year in each class, the study nutritionist briefly interacted with parents (15 minutes)
In 2011 there were 2 weekly PE classes, one lasting 90 minutes and the other one 45 minutes. In 2012, the duration of the second class increased to 90 minutes. Control schools followed the regular curriculum.
