title: Impact of a 'school-based' nutrition intervention on anthropometric parameters and the metabolic syndrome in Spanish adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In adolescents, overweight and obesity are associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of a school-based nutritional education program (NEP) on lifestyle changes in Spanish adolescents.
  
  
  METHODS
  We selected 263 secondary school students (127 males) aged 12-16 years from Granada (Spain), who were followed up throughout 1 school year (2009-2010). At the beginning and end of the school year, data were gathered on the food consumption frequency, and anthropometric and biochemical profile. The NEP comprised a class on nutritional recommendations every 15 days, and administration of a daily breakfast of 275-350 kcal.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After the intervention, the prevalence of overweight and obesity decreased among both male and female students (p < 0.001) and there was also a global reduction in the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MS) from 32.2 to 19.7% (p < 0.001); in addition, body mass index was significantly decreased in normal weight, overweight and obesity groups (p = 0.001 and p = 0.02, respectively), and high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol and lean body mass was increased in all groups (p = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The NEP achieved a medium-term reduction in the prevalence of overweight and obesity and had a significant and positive effect on MS components in all groups.
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Nutrition Unit, University Hospital San Cecilio, Granada, Spain. campospastor@terra.es
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Campos Pastor
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Serrano Pardo
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Fernández Soto
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Luna Del Castillo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Escobar-Jiménez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry; D002648:Child; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009043:Motor Activity; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D052756:Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires