The Effectiveness of Dietary Instruction in Obese School Children of Southern Taiwan

飲食指導改善南台灣學童肥胖問題之探討

張峰紫(Fown-Tzu Chang) ； 胡淑惠(Su-Huei Hu) ； 王瑞霞(Ruey-Shya Wang)

《The Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences》 14卷9期 (1998/09) Pp. 528-535

https://doi.org/10.6452/KJMS.199809.0528

摘要

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the short-term effectiveness of a weekly dietary instruction program to reduce obesity in elementary school children.
A total of 140 third- to sixth-grade overweight children and 130 height- and age-matched overweight children were selected from two elementary schools in Kaohsiung. The primary inclusion criterion was a Rohrer’s Index [RI=weight (kg)/height (cm3) X 107] greater than 150. The anthropometric measurement was performed on both the group receiving instruction and the group not receiving instruction. Biomedical monitoring of the students state of health, assessments of their nutritional knowledge, attitude and practice (K.A.P.) before and after the thirteen-week instruction were compared in the instruction group.
After completion of the instruction program, a significant reduction of RI values (177.2±18.3 vs. 169.4±20.1, p＜0.01), and a significant increase in body height (144.9±7.7 cm vs.146.7±7.7cm, p＜0.01), with no change in body weight (54.5±11.3 kg vs.54.3±11.3 kg) were found in the group receiving instruction. Some of the anthropometric parameters of obesity were also significantly improved. Reduction of total cholesterol and serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase (GOT)/Glutamic Pyrvic Transaminase (GPT) level were also observed; the later phenomena were interpreted as an improvement in the fatty metamorphosis of t6e liver, which usually accompanies obesity. A significantly increased nutrition knowledge and change to more healthy dietary behavior were also found in students who finished the instruction instruction sessions. An increase in NSQ scores indicated improved nutritional knowledge and behavior.
Through the implementation of weekly nutritional instruction, a decrease in RI can be achieved in a thirteen-week period. we propose that frequent nutritional education should be part of the curriculum of elementary school children in order to prevent obesity-related diseases.

關鍵字

obesity ； dietary instruction ； weight control

並列摘要

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the short-term effectiveness of a weekly dietary instruction program to reduce obesity in elementary school children.
A total of 140 third- to sixth-grade overweight children and 130 height- and age-matched overweight children were selected from two elementary schools in Kaohsiung. The primary inclusion criterion was a Rohrer’s Index [RI=weight (kg)/height (cm3) X 107] greater than 150. The anthropometric measurement was performed on both the group receiving instruction and the group not receiving instruction. Biomedical monitoring of the students state of health, assessments of their nutritional knowledge, attitude and practice (K.A.P.) before and after the thirteen-week instruction were compared in the instruction group.
After completion of the instruction program, a significant reduction of RI values (177.2±18.3 vs. 169.4±20.1, p＜0.01), and a significant increase in body height (144.9±7.7 cm vs.146.7±7.7cm, p＜0.01), with no change in body weight (54.5±11.3 kg vs.54.3±11.3 kg) were found in the group receiving instruction. Some of the anthropometric parameters of obesity were also significantly improved. Reduction of total cholesterol and serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase (GOT)/Glutamic Pyrvic Transaminase (GPT) level were also observed; the later phenomena were interpreted as an improvement in the fatty metamorphosis of t6e liver, which usually accompanies obesity. A significantly increased nutrition knowledge and change to more healthy dietary behavior were also found in students who finished the instruction instruction sessions. An increase in NSQ scores indicated improved nutritional knowledge and behavior.
Through the implementation of weekly nutritional instruction, a decrease in RI can be achieved in a thirteen-week period. we propose that frequent nutritional education should be part of the curriculum of elementary school children in order to prevent obesity-related diseases.