This study was planned to examine the effects of a healthy nutrition and yoga program given to obese children on nutritional behavior, physical activity and anthropometric measurements.
The prevalence of childhood obesity as a chronic disease is rapidly increasing all over the world, including low- and middle-income countries. Literature highlights that approximately 40.1 million children worldwide are overweight and, at the same time, overweight and obesity are rapidly increasing in almost every country in the world with no signs of slowing down. According to data, it is reported that the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children has increased from 4% to 18% in the last 41 years, and the number of obese school-age children has increased from 11 million to 124 million and has increased more than 10 times. Published reports state that Turkey's childhood obesity risk score is between 70-80%. It is reported that 30% of obese children become obese when they reach adulthood. In this context, identifying and treating individuals with childhood obesity is of great importance. The basic approach in childhood obesity, which is very difficult to treat, is to focus on changeable factors such as daily physical activity and healthy nutrition in an integrated manner. Although it has been proven in the literature that healthy nutrition and physical activity strategies are effective on obesity management, it has been stated that stabilization of this management is difficult. In addition, it is advocated that a holistic approach is required in obesity management to improve long-term results and maintain fitness. Yoga, used in today's obesity, has gained increasing popularity as a mind-body practice. Yoga mind and body movement approaches have the potential to offer a holistic approach to maintaining wellness. Yoga, a lifestyle-based form of physical exercise for health and wellness, emphasizes low physical impact postures (asana), breathwork (pranayama) and meditation (dhyana), regular body stretching, mind-body awareness, and mindful concentration. The literature has reported that yoga could reduce body mass index (BMI) in overweight/obese individuals. Another study reported that regular yoga practice is associated with weight-related health behaviors that may facilitate healthy weight management, such as healthy eating and moderate or vigorous physical activity. It has been concluded in the literature that yoga reduces the BMI values of obese children and that regular yoga practices may make it easier to prevent weight gain. Although the study results show that yoga-based interventions are promising on child obesity well-designed randomized controlled studies on this subject are needed. This study was planned to examine the effects of a healthy nutrition and yoga program given to obese children on nutritional behavior, physical activity and anthropometric measurements.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
33
* Healthy Nutrition Program * At the beginning of the "Healthy Nutrition and Yoga Program" by the researcher give education to families and children in 3 sessions (Importance of Nutrition in School Age, Obesity in School Age, Nutrition Recommendations for Obese Children). * Providing individual counseling to children every 2 weeks from the start of the Healthy Nutrition Program, in cooperation with a nutritionist, in line with the basic healthy eating behavior goals. * After the 2nd session of the healthy nutrition education and from the beginning of the Yoga Program, in the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 10th weeks, children are asked to keep a food diary for 2 weekdays and 1 weekend (Thursday-Friday-Saturday) and planning is made according to reaching basic healthy nutrition behavior goals. * Yoga Program \*Children's yoga is applied to each group twice a week for 12 weeks.
Karaman Provincial Directorate of National Education
Karaman, Turkey (Türkiye)
Anthropometric Measurements and Child Follow-up Form
This form, created by the researchers, includes height, weight, BMI, waist circumference, body composition device anthropometric measurements, and data on nutrition and physical activity.
Time frame: "pre-intervention", "12th week immediately after the intervention"
Family Nutrition and Physical Activity Scale
The scale consists of 20 items and is evaluated on a four-point Likert type scale (1=never/almost never, 2=sometimes, 3=often, 4=very often/always).The total score obtained from the scale varies between 20-80. When comparing the total score, high scores indicate less risky family practices and child behaviors for the child's obesity, while low scores indicate high-risk family environment and practices and child behaviors.
Time frame: "pre-intervention", "12th week immediately after the intervention"
Adolescent Identification Form
The 15-item questionnaire created by the researchers includes sociodemographic data of the child.
Time frame: "pre-intervention"
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