Impact of health education program on knowledge, attitude and practices about obesity and over weight among Saudi girls' in a primary school, Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia 2006.

Introduction

Obesity is a public health problem worldwide. Its prevalence has doubled over the last decades in several developing countries. It involves the integration of social, behavioral, cultural, physiological, metabolic and genetic factors. Childhood obesity has been linked to significant adverse health outcomes, changes in behavior, lower self-esteem, and depression variables that have the potential to affect school performance. Nutrition intervention and education strategies are needed to promote the adoption of healthful eating habits by pre-adolescents and adolescents. Objectives:This study is intended to assess the knowledge, attitude, beliefs and practices regarding overweight and obesity in Saudi students of a private primary school for girls in Riyadh city, and to evaluate the impact of a health education program on their knowledge, attitude, beliefs and practices as related to nutrition and obesity, in addition to determining the prevalence of overweight and obesity among them.

Methodology

The pretest-post-test one-group intervention and cross sectional study was conducted in a private girls' primary school in Riyadh city. A well-designed health education program using personal communication and visual media techniques was conducted for all students in grade five (150 students). Data was obtained by using a self-administered questionnaire as pre-and post-tests.

Results

The results of this study pointed out that a health education program on obesity and overweight for a Saudi primary schoolgirl has greatly and significantly improved their scores of general knowledge on obesity and over weight (P< 0.000). Similarly, significant improvement was apparent among scores of attitude, beliefs and practices related to nutrition and obesity (P< 0.000). The prevalence of obesity in our sample was 26%.

Conclusion

Obesity and overweight constitutes an important public health problem, among primary school Saudi girls in Riyadh city. A national prevention program with involvement of schools is recommended to avoid obesity-related morbidity (complication) in childhood and adulthood. The results of this study pointed out that a health education program on obesity and overweight for female students of primary school greatly and significantly improved their scores on general knowledge on obesity and overweight.