title: A six month randomized school intervention and an 18-month follow-up intervention to prevent childhood obesity in Mexican elementary schools.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study, focused on parents and children to reduce sedentary behavior, consumption of soft drinks and high-fat and salt containing snacks, and increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables, was to assess the effect of a six month intervention and an 18 month follow-up intervention on the body mass index, food consumption and physical activity of 2nd and 3rd grade elementary school children.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a randomized cluster controlled trial. School children were selected from 2nd and 3rd (n = 532) grade.
  
  
  METHODS
  BMI z-score for age and sex was calculated and classified according to the WHO (2006). Abdominal obesity was defined as WC > 90th of NHANES III.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At six months of the study differences were observed in BMI, -0.82 (p = 0.0001). At 24 months, results such as an increase of z-score BMI and waist circumference, a decrease in abdominal obesity, eighth per cent remission and an incidence of 18% of overweight and obesity were observed. Additionally, an increase (p = 0.007) in vegetable intake and physical activity (p = 0.0001) was also reported, along with a decrease in sedentary activities and the consumption of snacks high in fat and salt.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study indicate that with a comprehensive intervention there is a positive response to lifestyle changes and a reduction of abdominal obesity.
authors.affiliation: Nutrition Department, Facultad de Medicina y Psicología, Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Mesa de Otay, Tijuana BC, México.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bacardí-Gascon
authors.forename: Ma E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Pérez-Morales
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Cruz
mesh_terms: D000886:Anthropometry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003479:Curriculum; D004032:Diet; D004435:Eating; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010290:Parents; D018401:Sample Size; D012574:Schools; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D016896:Treatment Outcome