The purpose of this study was to encourage students to reduce soft drinks intake, substituting it by water, in order to prevent and control overweight prevalence.
During seven months of one school year, a healthy lifestyle education programme was implemented using simple messages encouraging water consumption instead of sugar sweetened carbonated beverages. The messages were previously tested for understanding in two small groups of children of the same age and socio-economic background as the study participants. Also, beliefs and behaviors of children in these focus groups were recorded in order to orient activities and the production of printed materials to be given to participants. Education was delivered via classroom activities; banners were hung promoting water consumption, and water bottles with the logo of the campaign were given to children and schoolteachers.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
1,140
The centre of the campaign was to encourage the exchange of sugar-sweetened beverages for water. Ten one-hour sessions of activities facilitated by four trained research assistants were assigned for each class. The activities required 20-30 min and teachers were encouraged to reiterate the message during their lesson. Classroom quizzes and games using water v. sugar-sweetened carbonated beverages as the theme, as well as song and drawing competitions, were promoted. In addition, a musician using a tambourine helped each class to collectively develop songs related to drinking water and reducing the consumption of sugar-sweetened carbonated beverages. This musical activity was conducted during three one-hour sessions.
Change in body mass index (kg/m²)
We have calculated changes in body mass index (BMI in follow-up minus BMI on baseline) and compared mean changes between control and intervention groups, in order to address differences in BMI gain among groups.
Time frame: baseline, 8 months
Change in overweight prevalence as assessed by percentage of overweight participants
Prevalence of overweight was assessed in both groups (intervention and control) in baseline and at the end of follow-up, according to standard definition proposed by Cole et al., 2000. Then, we evaluated changes in prevalences among groups.
Time frame: baseline, 8 months
Change in obesity prevalence as assessed by percentage of obese participants
Prevalence of obesity was assessed in both groups (intervention and control) in baseline and at the end of follow-up, according to standard definition proposed by Cole et al., 2000. Then, we evaluated changes in prevalences among groups.
Time frame: baseline, 8 months
Change in blood cholesterol
Time frame: baseline, 8 months
Change in blood glucose
Time frame: baseline, 8 months
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