Background: Childhood obesity has become a growing public health issue in Taiwan. Obese children have risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In this prospective study, we investigated the effect of a twelve-week heart health education and physical activity program on body weight and risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Methods: Subjects were 120 obese fifth graders (65 boys and 55 girls, aged 10-13 years (mean 10.6 yrs), body mass index (BMI) at the 95th percentile or more) and were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n=60) or control group (n=60). The intervention group received a twelve-week heart health education and physical activity program, while the control group did not. In both groups, a series of examinations were done at baseline and post-test, including height, weight, BMI, body fat, blood pressure (BP), physical fitness (800-meter running test), heart health knowledge, and serum biochemistry. Differences for baseline and post-test data were compared between both groups.
Results: Mean changes in the intervention group versus control group were significant for weight (P = 0.024), BMI (P = 0.047), percentage body fat (P = 0.008), physical fitness (800-meter running test) (P = 0.025), heart health knowledge (P = 0.006), total cholesterol (P = 0.027), triglycerides (P = 0.018), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (P = 0.009), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (P = 0.041), sugar (P = 0.035), insulin (P = 0.007), and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (P = 0.028). At post-test, weight, BMI, body fat, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, sugar, insulin and HOMA-IR had decreased, but HDL-C had increased in the intervention group.
Conclusions: A classroom-based weight-control intervention provides educational programs to promote cardiovascular health in children. This intervention is simple, practical, and beneficial for elementary school children.