Effectiveness of lifestyle modification counselling on the body mass index of children: A school based analytical study

Abstract

Background and objectives: Childhood obesity is a major contributor to the NCD burden in this age group. The aim of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of lifestyle modification counselling on body mass index of children. Methods: This was a non-randomized, interventional, behavioural modification study conducted in a tertiary care health facility in the southern part of India for a period of one year between July 2018 and June 2019. The study included school going children of both gender (1:1) in the age group of 7 to 12 years with a body mass index equal to or more than the 85th percentile for age and gender (in accordance with the International Obesity task force 2000). Results: The proportion of children overweight were 57.4% and obese were 42.6%. The number of children performing physical activity less than an hour was 81.0% before intervention; reduced to 34.7% after intervention – a statistically significant reduction (p<0.05). Similarly, we found that children watching TV for more than an hour significantly reduced (83.7% vs 26.3%); children playing computer and/or video games for more than an hour significantly reduced (14.3% vs 3.0%); proportion of children having excess calorie intake significantly reduced (87.0% vs 17.3%); proportion of children skipping breakfast significantly reduced (35.3% vs 3.7%); proportion of children consuming junk food for more than or equal to two time per week significantly reduced (62.3% vs 24.3%); and the proportion of children snacking during TV for more than or equal to two times per week significantly reduced post intervention (56.0% vs 21.0%). Conclusion: Lifestyle modification counselling has shown promise in addressing childhood obesity, with studies demonstrating positive effects on BMI reduction and overall health improvement.