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Preventing excessive weight gain by encouraging healthy eating habits among adolescents in Brazil: a randomised community trial
Author(s) -
Cunha Diana,
Souza Bárbara,
Pereira Rosangela,
Sichieri Rosely
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.257.7
Subject(s) - medicine , weight gain , psychological intervention , intervention (counseling) , behaviour change , weight loss , environmental health , demography , gerontology , obesity , body weight , nursing , sociology
Objective Effect of an educational programme aimed to discouraging sweetened beverages and cookies, crackers and chips and encouraging fruits consumption, to prevent excessive weight gain. Methods 20 classes were randomly assigned in to intervention or control. From 572 students enrolled, 399 students participated to the study (intervention: 10 classes with 207 individuals; control: 10 classes with 192 participants). There were nine sessions with nutrition education in the intervention group during the school year 2010. For all interventions, parents and teachers were included and received specific materials. The main outcome was the change in BMI. Intention‐to‐treat analysis was performed taking into account the cluster (classes) effect. Results BMI change was not significantly different between groups (p=0.22), however, consumption of sweetened beverages (mean difference= −0,20; 95% CI=−0,30; −0,11) and cookies (−1,35; 95% CI = −0,20; −0,75) showed a greater reduction and fruits consumption showed a greater incrase (0,17; 95% CI =0,01;0,34) in the intervention compared to control. Conclusion The incentive to adopt healthy eating habits did not lead to changes in BMI, but changed dietary habits. Strategies based exclusively on the quality of diet is not enough to reduce weight gain. Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov . Identifier: NCT01046474. Funding: PAHEF, FAPERJ, CNPq. Grant Funding Source : Pan American Health and Education and Brazilian Research Council