The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of mobile health nutrition education intervention in the changing of dietary habits and body composition of overweight and obese 8-12 years old children in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates and to compare its effectiveness to paper educational intervention among the same age group. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Are there any significant changes in dietary habits, physical activity and body composition among overweight and obese school-age children after three months of mobile health intervention? 2. Is there any significant difference between the effect of smart phone delivered and paper delivered interventions (changes in dietary habits, physical activity and body composition) among overweight and obese school-age children after three months of interventions? 3. Are there any significant changes in the obesity inflammatory panel among overweight and obese school-age children after three months of mobile health intervention? 4. Is there any significant difference in the sustainability of the outcomes between mobile health and paper delivered interventions among overweight and obese school-age children two months after the end of the intervention? 5. Are there any significant changes in nutrition related knowledge among parents of overweight and obese school-age children after three months of intervention? Participants (children with their parents) will be randomly divided into intervention group and control group. Parents of children from the intervention group will receive two text messages/graphics per week about healthy eating and physical activity (PA) on their mobile phones during the intervention period (3 months). While parents in the control group will receive a one-time printed handout containing the same messages at the beginning of the intervention period. Assessment of children's anthropometry, dietary intake and physical activity will be evaluated pre and post intervention and one more time after a two months period of maintenance after the end of the intervention. Parents' nutrition knowledge will be evaluated pre and post intervention only. Also, children salivary obesity markers will be measured at baseline and at the end of the intervention period to explore the effects of the intervention on inflammatory markers associated with obesity.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
146
Nutrition and Health Education module delivered through m-health approach (smart phones)
Nutrition and Health Education module delivered through conventional approach (paper)
University of Sharjah
Sharjah city, United Arab Emirates
Weight
Will be measured using a Body Composition Analyzer, and will be measured in Kilograms
Time frame: 3 times: before intervention (at 0 months), after intervention (at 3 months), after maintenance (at 5 months)
Height
Will be measured using a standing Stadiometer, and will be measured in Centimetres
Time frame: 3 times: before intervention (at 0 months), after intervention (at 3 months), after maintenance (at 5 months)
Body Mass Index
Will be calculated using the weight and height, and will be measured in kg/m\^2
Time frame: 3 times: before intervention (at 0 months), after intervention (at 3 months), after maintenance (at 5 months)
Body Fat Mass
Will be measured using a Body Composition Analyzer, and will be measured in Kilograms
Time frame: 3 times: before intervention (at 0 months), after intervention (at 3 months), after maintenance (at 5 months)
Fat Free Mass
Will be measured using a Body Composition Analyzer, and will be measured in Kilograms
Time frame: 3 times: before intervention (at 0 months), after intervention (at 3 months), after maintenance (at 5 months)
Total Body Water
Will be measured using a Body Composition Analyzer, and will be measured in Kilograms
Time frame: 3 times: before intervention (at 0 months), after intervention (at 3 months), after maintenance (at 5 months)
Parents' Knowledge
Using a valid Nutrition Knowledge Attitude Practice Questionnaire - no scale
Time frame: twice: before intervention (at 0 months) and after intervention (at 3 months).
Children's Dietary Intake
Using 24 Hours' Diet recall (3 days).
Time frame: 3 times: before intervention (at 0 months), after intervention (at 3 months), after maintenance (at 5 months)
Children's Physical Activity
Using a valid Physical Activity Questionnaire - no scale
Time frame: 3 times: before intervention (at 0 months), after intervention (at 3 months), after maintenance (at 5 months)
Salivary C-Reactive Protein Concentration
Concentration in saliva samples will be assessed using Luminex Performance Human Obesity Panel (10-Plex)
Time frame: twice: before intervention (at 0 months) and after intervention (at 3 months).
Salivary Adiponectin (Acrp30) Concentration
Concentration in saliva samples will be assessed using Luminex Performance Human Obesity Panel (10-Plex)
Time frame: twice: before intervention (at 0 months) and after intervention (at 3 months).
Salivary Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1/CCL2) Concentration
Concentration in saliva samples will be assessed using Luminex Performance Human Obesity Panel (10-Plex)
Time frame: twice: before intervention (at 0 months) and after intervention (at 3 months).
Salivary Complement Factor D (Adipsin) Concentration
Concentration in saliva samples will be assessed using Luminex Performance Human Obesity Panel (10-Plex)
Time frame: twice: before intervention (at 0 months) and after intervention (at 3 months).
Salivary Interleukin 6 (IL-6) Concentration
Concentration in saliva samples will be assessed using Luminex Performance Human Obesity Panel (10-Plex)
Time frame: twice: before intervention (at 0 months) and after intervention (at 3 months).
Salivary Interleukin 10 (IL-10) Concentration
Concentration in saliva samples will be assessed using Luminex Performance Human Obesity Panel (10-Plex)
Time frame: twice: before intervention (at 0 months) and after intervention (at 3 months).
Salivary Leptin (OB) Concentration
Concentration in saliva samples will be assessed using Luminex Performance Human Obesity Panel (10-Plex)
Time frame: twice: before intervention (at 0 months) and after intervention (at 3 months).
Salivary Resistin Concentration
Concentration in saliva samples will be assessed using Luminex Performance Human Obesity Panel (10-Plex)
Time frame: twice: before intervention (at 0 months) and after intervention (at 3 months).
Salivary Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 (Serpin E1 / PAI-1) Concentration
Concentration in saliva samples will be assessed using Luminex Performance Human Obesity Panel (10-Plex)
Time frame: twice: before intervention (at 0 months) and after intervention (at 3 months).
Salivary Tumour Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF alpha) Concentration
Concentration in saliva samples will be assessed using Luminex Performance Human Obesity Panel (10-Plex)
Time frame: twice: before intervention (at 0 months) and after intervention (at 3 months).
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