Efficacy of a School-Based Healthy Life Program in Turkey

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a school-based healthy life program, and a pretest-posttest control group design was used. Five hundred and thirty-seven students formed the intervention group and 568 students formed the control group in 4 elementary schools. Both the control and intervention groups were tested for their knowledge levels before and after the training, and their body mass indexes (BMIs) and blood pressures were measured. The results show that the intervention group’s self-reported daily exercise duration increased at the end of the training. This study provides evidence for the benefits of using school-based healthy life programs beginning in elementary school.

[1]  F. Baş,et al.  Reference Values for Weight, Height, Head Circumference, and Body Mass Index in Turkish Children , 2015, Journal of clinical research in pediatric endocrinology.

[2]  R. Kebaili,et al.  School-based intervention to promote healthy nutrition in Sousse, Tunisia , 2014, International journal of adolescent medicine and health.

[3]  J. Salmon,et al.  Can a school based programme in a natural environment reduce BMI in overweight adolescents? , 2012, Medical hypotheses.

[4]  R. Iannotti,et al.  Associations of television viewing with eating behaviors in the 2009 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children Study. , 2012, Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine.

[5]  Kristine A. Madsen,et al.  Physical activity and positive youth development: impact of a school-based program. , 2011, The Journal of school health.

[6]  H. Akan,et al.  Eating patterns of Turkish adolescents: a cross-sectional survey , 2010, Nutrition journal.

[7]  S. Savaşer,et al.  A Controlled Evaluation of a School-Based Obesity Prevention in Turkish School Children , 2010, The Journal of school nursing : the official publication of the National Association of School Nurses.

[8]  A. Agatston,et al.  Effective Multi-level, Multi-sector, School-based Obesity Prevention Programming Improves Weight, Blood Pressure, and Academic Performance, Especially among Low-Income, Minority Children , 2010, Journal of health care for the poor and underserved.

[9]  Cynthia K. Perry,et al.  Assessing tribal youth physical activity and programming using a community-based participatory research approach. , 2010, Public health nursing.

[10]  K. Grimmer-Somers,et al.  School-based interventions on childhood obesity: a meta-analysis. , 2009, American journal of preventive medicine.

[11]  J. Montani,et al.  Sugary drinks in the pathogenesis of obesity and cardiovascular diseases , 2008, International Journal of Obesity.

[12]  J. Kropski,et al.  School‐based Obesity Prevention Programs: An Evidence‐based Review , 2008, Obesity.

[13]  Jeffrey Martin,et al.  A pilot study to examine the effects of a nutrition intervention on nutrition knowledge, behaviors, and efficacy expectations in middle school children. , 2008, The Journal of school health.

[14]  J. Connelly,et al.  A systematic review of controlled trials of interventions to prevent childhood obesity and overweight: a realistic synthesis of the evidence. , 2007, Public health.

[15]  Peds Nutrition 231 SPRING 2007 TEXTBOOK: Ball, J.W., Bindler, R. C. (2006). Child health nursing: Partnering with children & families. Upper Saddle River: , 2007 .

[16]  Lois C. Gilmer,et al.  Obesity prevention in pediatrics: A pilot pediatric resident curriculum intervention on nutrition and obesity education and counseling. , 2006, Journal of the National Medical Association.

[17]  M. He,et al.  Prevalence of overweight and obesity in school-aged children. , 2006, Canadian journal of dietetic practice and research : a publication of Dietitians of Canada = Revue canadienne de la pratique et de la recherche en dietetique : une publication des Dietetistes du Canada.

[18]  F. Baş,et al.  Body mass index references for Turkish children. , 2006, Acta paediatrica.

[19]  Samuel A. Spiegel,et al.  Reducing Overweight through a Multidisciplinary School‐based Intervention , 2006, Obesity.

[20]  N. Murphy,et al.  Influence of a health education intervention on physical activity and screen time in primary school children: 'Switch Off--Get Active'. , 2005, Journal of science and medicine in sport.

[21]  N. Sreeram,et al.  Data from the StEP TWO programme showing the effect on blood pressure and different parameters for obesity in overweight and obese primary school children , 2005, Cardiology in the Young.

[22]  C. Henry,et al.  Evaluation of a pilot school programme aimed at the prevention of obesity in children. , 2003, Health promotion international.

[23]  June Stevens,et al.  Pathways: a school-based, randomized controlled trial for the prevention of obesity in American Indian schoolchildren. , 2003, The American journal of clinical nutrition.

[24]  M. Levine,et al.  An elementary school project for developing healthy body image and reducing risk factors for unhealthy and disordered eating , 2000 .

[25]  Carol K. Sigelman,et al.  Life-span Human Development , 1990 .

[26]  M. Swartz Essentials of pediatric nursing, 2nd edition: By Lucille F. Whaley and Donna L. Wong. St Louis: The C.V. Mosby Company, 1985. 1091 pages with 593 illustrations. $43.95, hardcover. , 1986 .

[27]  Dorothy Rogers,et al.  Life-span human development , 1982 .