Effects of health education on cognition,diet and lifestyle in obese children

【Objective】 To explore the impacts of single and repetitive health education on the cognition,diet,lifestyle and weight control in obese children,and provide effective measures to childhood obesity intervention.【Methods】 According to "Body mass index growth curves for Chinese children adolescents aged 0 to 18 years "diagnostic criteria for screening obesity in school-age children.Obese children and their parents were distributed questionnaires to assess cognition of obesity,diet and lifestyle and then were assigned single or repetitive education.Six months later,the obese children and their parents were asked to complete the questionnaires again for evaluating health education effects on cognition,diet and lifestyle and weight control.【Results】 107 obese children(6 to 13-year-old,69 boys,38 girls) were involved into the intervention study and 90 obese children were completed.There were 44 obese children in single education group and 46 obese children in repetitive education group.At 6 months' follow-up,1) Cognition:Both of children and parents in two groups on the cognitive had increased,particular in children(P=0.008) and parents(P=0.003) of repetitive education group.2) Dietary survey:total energy,protein,fat,carbohydrate intake,food energy density of the lunch and dinner,single meal size(lunch size and dinner size) were significantly decreased in repetitive education group(P0.001),while the meal size was not any change in single education group(P0.05).3) Lifestyles:had significantly decreased in high fat food,snacks,watching TV,snacking,watch TV time(P0.001)in repetitive education group but not in single education group(P0.05).4) Body Mass Index(BMI):During the follow-up,the mean BMI-Standard Deviation Score(BMI-SDS) was decreased in repetitive education group(P0.01)but not in single education group(P0.05).【Conclusion】 Health education,especially repetitive education could change obese children on cognitive ability,total energy intake and lifestyle,thereby reducing BMI.