Promoting healthy eating and physical activity among school children: findings from Health-E-PALS, the first pilot intervention from Lebanon

BMC Public Health

Carolyn Summerbell³  Nahla Hwalla²  Kassim Adetayo³  Maya Nabhani-Zeidan²  Helen J Moore³  Lilian A Ghandour¹  Carla Habib-Mourad² 

[1] Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon;Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, American University of Riad El-Solh, PO Box 11–0236, Beirut 1107-2020, Lebanon;School of Medicine, Pharmacy and Health, Durham University, Stockton-on-Tees, UK

关键词: Pilot trial;    Eastern Mediterranean region;    School-based interventions;    Childhood obesity;   

Others  :  1127903
DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2458-14-940

 received in 2014-02-27, accepted in 2014-09-04,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

Background

In Lebanon, childhood obesity doubled during the past decade. Preventive measures should start early in life and Schools are considered an important environment to promote energy balance health behaviours. School-based programmes promoting healthy lifestyles are lacking. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of a multicomponent school-based intervention to promote healthy eating and physical activity (and prevent obesity) with school children aged 9–11 years in Lebanon.

Methods

The intervention was developed based on the constructs of the Social Cognitive Theory and adapted to the culture of Lebanese and Arab populations. It consisted of three components: class curriculum, family involvement and food service. Eight schools were purposively selected from two communities of different socioeconomic status (SES) in Beirut and, within each school type, were matched on SES, religious sect profile, and then randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group. Anthropometric measurements and questionnaires on determinants of behavioural change, eating and physical activity habits were completed by the students in both groups at baseline and post intervention. Focus group interviews were conducted in intervention schools at the end of the study. Challenges encountered during the programme implementation were also identified, since Lebanon is considered a country with political unrest and no similar research projects were conducted in the area.

Results

Students in the intervention group reported purchasing and consuming less chips and sweetened drinks post-intervention compared with controls (86% & 88% less respectively p < 0.001). Knowledge and self-efficacy scores increased for the intervention (+2.8 & +1.7 points respectively p < 0.001) but not for the control group. There was no difference in physical activity and screen time habits and no changes in BMI between groups at post intervention. Interview data from focus groups showed that the programme was generally well accepted. Limitations for better outcomes include the length of the programme and the school environment.

Conclusion

“Health-E-PALS” intervention is a promising innovative, theory-based, culturally sensitive intervention to promote healthy eating habits and physical activity in Lebanese school children with a potential to be scaled up, replicated and sustained.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Habib-Mourad et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

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