A Study on Weight Control Program for 4th and 5th Grade Obese Children in Elementary School

Abstract

This study examined the proper roles of dietitian and nurse-teacher in the weight control program (WCP) in schools and the effect of the WCP on subjects with respect to anthropometric measurements, nutrition knowledge, dietary attiude, and behavior changes. The program consisted of six sessions of nutrition education and frequent face-to-face nutrition counseling. Subjects were 22 obese children in the 4th and 5th grade who underwent counseling and 18 obese children in another school who served as a control group. After two months of WCP, obesity index such as .elative body weight (RBW, from 135.7 to 132.5), tricep skinfold thickness (TSFT, from 34.9 to 32.8 mm), and body fat content (from 32.0 to 29.8%) had decreased significantly in the experimental group, while the control group showed no significant differences in these indices. The reductions in obesity indices were maintained in the experimental group except for fat content (32.6%), which returned to its original value within six months. The control group significantly increased fat content in the same period (from 31.2% to 36.2%). Both groups decreased RBW, TSFT, and fat content while midarm circumference and waist/hip ratio remained the same after one year. Subjects' nutrition knowledge was improved with average test scores from 15.1 to 16.7 while nutrition attitude and behavior test scores remained unchanged suggesting that behavior modification may require more time than knowledge acquirement. These results suggest that proper nutrition counseling can initiate weight reduction. However, the maintenance of controlled weight requires changes in attitude and behavior which have not been achieved by the present WCP. The role of school dietitian for WCP in this study was limited to assisting the nurse-teacher in nutrition education. Expansion of dietitian's role in nutrition education and counseling is needed.

Keywords

• weight control program;
• obese children;
• nutrition education;
• obesity index.