The Combined Effect of Teaching a Healthy Diet and Physical Activity on the Management of Obesity and Overweight Students: A Clinical Trial

The prevalence of obesity and overweight in children and adolescents has increased greatly, and it is considered one of the most important health issues in society. This study was conducted to determine the effect of a combined intervention program with the approach of nutrition education and physical activities for the prevention and treatment of obesity and overweight in students of Kermanshah, Iran.

In this randomized clinical trial study, 1000 students from schools in Kermanshah city were randomly divided into two intervention and control groups. The intervention group received nutritional education based on consuming low-calorie foods and increasing physical activities in schools for one academic year. The control group received the standard recommendations to make lifestyle modifications. The data before and after the intervention in two groups were analyzed with paired t-tests and ANCOVA.

After the intervention, energy intake, carbohydrates, and fat significantly decreased in the intervention group. After the intervention, the weight and waist size of the students in the intervention group were significantly reduced compared to the control group. In the intervention group, physical activity, nutritional awareness, and nutritional attitude increased significantly after the intervention. In the control group, there was no significant change in weight, energy, physical activity, and nutritional awareness at the end of the study.

The combined intervention program with the approach of nutrition education and physical activity can be used as an effective approach in the prevention and treatment of obesity and overweight in students.