The Incidence of Obesity, Assessed as Adiposity, Is Reduced After 1 Year in Primary Schoolchildren by the POIBA Intervention

• Published in: The Journal of nutrition 2019-02, Vol.149 (2), p.258-269
• Main Authors: Ariza, Carles, Sánchez-Martínez, Francesca, Serral, Gemma, Valmayor, Sara, Juárez, Olga, Pasarín, María Isabel, Castell, Conxa, Rajmil, Luis, López, María José
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adipose tissue; Adiposity; Child; childhood prevention; Children; College students; effectiveness evaluation; Exercise; Female; Health Promotion; healthy eating; Humans; Immunoglobulins; Incidence; Intervention; Life Style; Male; Nutrition; Obesity; Pediatric Obesity - epidemiology; Pediatric Obesity - prevention & control; Physical activity; Physical properties; Prevention; Regression analysis; Regression models; school-based program; Schools; Skinfold thickness; Spain - epidemiology; Students; Weight
• ISSN: 0022-3166; 1541-6100
• DOI: 10.1093/jn/nxy259

Childhood obesity is becoming a serious problem, and prevention programs are needed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate, after 1 y, the effectiveness of a multicomponent, school-based obesity intervention program. This intervention, conducted in Barcelona, Spain, was a quasi-experimental obesity primary prevention intervention targeting schoolchildren aged 9–10 y. Participants were assigned to an intervention group (IG) (1464 students) or to a comparison group (CG) (1609 students). The intervention consisted of a 9-session classroom program, 6 weekly sessions of physical education and out-of-school physical activity, and a workshop for families. It lasted from October 2011 to May 2012. Data obtained at baseline (spring 2011) and follow-up (spring 2012) included information on nutrition and physical activity, through 2 self-reported questionnaires, and measurement of weight, height, triceps skinfold thickness, and waist circumference. The cumulative incidence rate (CIR) of obesity was calculated from triceps skinfold measures. A multilevel logistic regression model was fitted to determine the association between the intervention and the CIR of obesity. The effect size of the program was estimated with Cohen's criteria. The overall prevalence of obesity at baseline was 12.7%. At the 12-mo follow-up, the incidence of obesity was 7.8% in the IG compared with 11.4% in the CG (P