Effects of controlled school-based multi-component model of nutrition and lifestyle interventions on behavior modification, anthropometry and metabolic risk profile of urban Asian Indian adolescents in North India.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effectiveness of a multi-component intervention model of nutrition and lifestyle education on behavior modification, anthropometry and metabolic risk profile of urban Asian-Indian adolescents in North India.


METHODS
Two schools matched for student strength and middle socioeconomic strata were randomly allocated to intervention and control group. Changes in nutrition-related knowledge, attitude, lifestyle practices, food frequency and body image of eleventh-grade students (15-17 years) in both schools were tested using a validated questionnaire. Anthropometric and biochemical measurements were made using standard methods. Segmental body composition analysis was carried out using an 8-electrode multifrequency bioelectrical impedance method of body fat estimation.


RESULTS
At 6 months follow-up, significant improvement in several domains of knowledge was observed in intervention children (n=99; males=60; females=39) as compared with control school children (n=102; males=61; females=41). In the intervention group, significantly lower proportion of children consumed aerated drinks (15.1%; P<0.001) and energy-dense unhealthy foods (8.9%; P=0.03), whereas significantly higher proportion brought tiffin (packed lunch) to school (14.9%; P=0.004) and brought a fruit in their tiffin (30.7%; P<0.001) as compared with the control group. Significant decrease in mean waist circumference (P=0.02, 95% confidence interval (CI)=-2.43,-0.17), sagittal abdominal diameter (P<0.001, 95% CI=-0.82,-0.09), waist-to-hip ratio (P=0.02, 95% CI=-0.03,-0.004) and fasting blood glucose (P=0.05, 95% CI=-0.09, 5.00) was seen in intervention as compared with control school children.


CONCLUSIONS
Multi-component model of nutrition and lifestyle education was successful in improving the nutrition-related knowledge, eating habits and lifestyle practices, and resulted in beneficial changes in anthropometric and biochemical profiles of the Asian Indian adolescents. This model should be applied on countrywide basis to prevent obesity and diabetes.
Singhal
N
N
Centre for Diabetes, Obesity and Cholesterol Disorders (C-DOC), Diabetes Foundation (India), New Delhi, India.
Misra
A
A
Shah
P
P
Gulati
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D017195:Adolescent Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D044466:Asian People; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001823:Body Composition; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008019:Life Style; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014504:Urban Health
D001786:Blood Glucose; D008055:Lipids