title: [Effectiveness of a school-based program to prevent obesity].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intervention for childhood obesity is a public health priority. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an elementary school-based intervention against obesity in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Non-randomised controlled trial was conducted on children from first to fifth grade from two public schools of Avilés (Spain). The intervention lasted for 2 school years comprising healthy diet workshops, educational chats, educational meetings, informative written material, and promotion of physical activities. Primary outcome measure was body mass index z-score. Secondary outcomes included: obesity and overweight prevalence, waist circumference, dietary habits, and physical activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 382 (177 girls, 205 boys) out of 526 pupils of both schools were included in the study. Complete anthropometric data were obtained in 340 of the 382 individuals. Compared to children in control group, those in intervention group decreased body mass index z-score from 1.14 to 1.02 (P=.017), and improved KIDMED score from 7.33 to 7.71 points (P=.045). The percentage of students who carried on an optimal diet increased from 42.6% to 52.3% (P=.021). There were no statistical differences in the prevalence of obesity and overweight, or in waist circumference between the intervention and control groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This school-based program resulted in modest beneficial changes in body mass index and diet quality.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital San Agustín, Avilés, Asturias, España. Electronic address: david@perezsolis.es.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pérez Solís
authors.affiliation: Área de Gestión Clínica de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Asturias, España.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Díaz Martín
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital de Cabueñes, Gijón, Asturias, España.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Álvarez Caro
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital San Agustín, Avilés, Asturias, España.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Suárez Tomás
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital San Agustín, Avilés, Asturias, España.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Suárez Menéndez
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Pediatría, Hospital San Agustín, Avilés, Asturias, España.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Riaño Galán
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015995:Prevalence; D012572:School Health Services
keywords: Body mass index; Diet; Dieta; Educación y entrenamiento físico; Escuelas; Obesidad; Obesity; Overweight; Physical education and training; Schools; Sobrepeso; Índice de masa corporal