title: The influence of a behavior modification interventional program on body mass index in obese adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The prevalence of obesity and overweight among children and adolescents is increasing rapidly. The present research was performed to determine the influence of a ''behavior modification'' program on body mass index (BMI) in obese public high school students in Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, 152 adolescence and their parents were selected from 12 high schools of Khorram Abad from 2004 to 2006, and they were randomly assigned to either the intervention or the control groups. The "behavior modification" interventional program consisted of nutritional education, modifying dietary habits, teaching exercise programs, teaching nutritional facts to the parents, and performing exercises 3 days a week. The height and weight as well as waist, hip, and wrist circumferences of the participants were measured before and after implementing the interventional program. BMI and waist to hip ratio (WHR) were calculated. The adolescents and parents completed a nutrition knowledge questionnaire. Adolescents also completed the Beck's Depression Questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adolescent's mean weight, BMI, and waist and hip circumferences decreased significantly after implementing the interventional program, in the intervention group (p≤0.001). In addition, the students' and parents' nutrition knowledge increased in the intervention group after implementing the interventional program (p<0.046). The symptoms of depression decreased and the frequency of students without symptoms of depression increased in the case group, but it did not reveal a statistically significant difference between case and control groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ''behavior modification'' interventional program is effective in reducing BMI in obese students, and therefore, school principals and planners can play an important role in controlling obesity by implementing this program via the students, their parents, and the school staff.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorram Abad, Iran. tolabi.t@lums.ac.ir
authors.forename: Tahereh
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Toulabi
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khosh Niyat Nikoo
authors.forename: Fariba
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Amini
authors.forename: Hedayat
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nazari
authors.forename: Mahnaz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mardani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012574:Schools; D055815:Young Adult