The Effects of a Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Body Image Intervention on Girls in Intermediate Schools in Saudi Arabia

Abeer Ahmad Bahathig; Hazizi Abu Saad

doi:10.3390/ijerph191811314

The Effects of a Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Body Image Intervention on Girls in Intermediate Schools in Saudi Arabia

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Sep 8;19(18):11314. doi: 10.3390/ijerph191811314.

Authors

Abeer Ahmad Bahathig^{1

2}, Hazizi Abu Saad¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia.
² Department of Nutrition and Food Science, College of Home Economics, Northern Border University, Arar 91431, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

This cluster-randomized study aimed to evaluate the effects of an intervention focused on physical activity, nutrition, and body image perception among girls in intermediate schools in Saudi Arabia. A seminar was delivered to the mothers of the girls in the experimental group. The experimental group then attended six interactive sessions within 3 months featuring physical activity, nutrition, and body image perception, followed by a 3-month follow-up period. A total of 138 respondents (68 in the experimental group and 70 in the control group) completed the intervention. Each participant's body mass index-for-age z-score and waist circumference were measured, and they completed a physical activity, sedentary behavior, and body image perception questionnaires before and after the intervention and at the follow-up. The intervention was evaluated using within- and between-groups generalized estimating equations. There were no significant changes in the respondents' body mass index-for-age z-score or waist circumference (p > 0.05). However, immediate significant improvements were seen in physical activity, sedentary behavior, and body image satisfaction among the experimental group, and these improvements remained at follow-up (p < 0.001). These differences were more significant among the experimental group than among the control group. We found this intervention effective. Future studies can adapt this intervention for adolescent boys and extend its duration to improve the body mass index outcome.

Keywords: body image; intervention; nutrition; physical activity; school students.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Body Image*
Body Mass Index
Exercise*
Female
Humans
Male
Saudi Arabia
Schools

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the Saudi Arabia Culture Mission and The Northern Border University; the financial guarantee that the student (the researcher A.A.B.) possesses covered the research process. In the design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and writing of research manuscripts, the sponsoring organization played no role.