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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04905966

Effect of a Physical Activity and Nutrition Education Intervention on Obesity Prevalence in Schoolchildren

Childhood obesity is a major global public health problem. Several strategies have been implemented to reduce the high prevalence, the most cost-effective of which were those that focused on the school environment. Although there is vast research that focus on interventions that address obesity through interventions to improve schoolchildren diets and physical activity level in many countries of the Latin American region, there is lack of evidence of the effectiveness of multicomponent interventions that aim to reduce the prevalence of obesity among schoolchildren in the Paraguayan context.

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Key information

Conditions

Childhood Obesity Behavior Body Weight Motor Activity Nutrition Disorders Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases Obesity Overnutrition Overweight Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Pediatric Obesity Signs and Symptoms

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Instituto Regional de Investigacion en Salud

Coronel Oviedo, Caaguazú Department, 00000, Paraguay

About this study

Nutritional education and physical activity. Interventions that promote healthy eating and lifelong physical activity in schoolchildren through school programs aim to equip children with knowledge, attitudes and behavioral skills to help them establish and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Poor diet quality has been identified as one of the main factors contributing to the obesity epidemic. Research has shown that a diet that includes the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables (VF) reduces morbidity and mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and has also been linked to a lower risk of adiposity. Therefore, the need to promote the consumption of VF from an early age through effective programs.

The interventions in Physical Activity have shown effective results in the decrease of BMI, the thickness of the skin folds and the percentage of fat mass in school-age children. Taking into account that currently the schoolchildren have decreased the amount of time dedicated to games, sports or other types of movement and the hours of sedentary life and in front of the screens (computers, tablets, television, mobile phones, others) have increased.

It is necessary to promote the performance of physical activity in the school environment through permanent programs that contribute to improving the physical condition of children, complying with daily recommendations.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Being public or private schools of the 22 districts of Caaguazú Department
  • Having a minimum of 100 students in each of the three grades of second level of basic school education during 2017 school year
  • Having physical education teachers

Exclusion criteria

  • Schools that had only one school shift
  • Schools that expressed their refusal to participate

Treatment and study plan

Nutrition education and Physical activity intervention

Behavioral

Schools randomized to the experimental group received nutrition education sessions and physical activity classes.

Primary outcomes

  1. Skinfold thickness

    Time frame: 6 months

    Continuous variable, measured in millimeters (mm)

Secondary outcomes

  1. Fruit and vegetables intake

    Time frame: 6 months

    Continuous variable, measured in servings per day

  2. Physical activity level

    Time frame: 6 months

    Categorical variable, measured using MET in minutes/week and classified as low, medium and high intensity

  3. Nutritional status

    Time frame: 6 months

    Categorical variable, measured using BMI/age an classified as undernourished, normal, overweight and obese according to WHO standards

  4. Waist circumference

    Time frame: 6 months

    Continuous variable, measured in centimeters (cm)

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Patricia Celestina Ríos Mujica

Other

Collaborators

  • PROCIENCIA, Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología

Registry information

Official study title

Effect of a Physical Activity and Nutrition Education Intervention on Obesity Prevalence in Schoolchildren From Caaguazu Department, Paraguay: A Clustered Randomized Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start
2018
Primary completion
2019
Study completion
2019
First posted
May 28, 2021
Registry last updated
May 28, 2021

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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