title: A School-Based Intervention to Reduce Excess Weight in Overweight and Obese Primary School Students.
abstract: This study evaluated the effect of an intervention for reducing excess weight gain in primary school-age children in Tehran.
  
  
  
  A cluster-randomized controlled trial was conducted in 12 primary schools in Tehran. Three hundred thirty-four pupils, 167 in the intervention and 167 in the comparison group, determined to be overweight or obese based on World Health Organization standards, were recruited for the study. The intervention included nutrition education and increased physical activity (PA) for the pupils, lifestyle modification for parents, and a change in food items sold at the schools' canteens. The entire intervention lasted approximately 18 weeks. Measures were taken before and immediately after the intervention.
  
  
  
  The intervention significantly reduced body mass index Z-score and hip circumference (p = .003 and p < .001, respectively). Waist circumference increased in both groups, but the increase was higher in the comparison group (p = .001). No significant difference was seen in time spent on TV viewing between groups (p = .08). Vigorous PA increased in the intervention group (p < .001), while the comparison group showed an increase in moderate activity only (p < .001). Energy intake increased significantly in the intervention group (p < .001). Neither triceps skinfold thickness nor time spent on the computer changed in the intervention group (p = .51 and p = .1, respectively), while they increased in the comparison group (p < .001 and p = .004, respectively).
  
  
  
  The study provides a successful model for the implementation of similar interventions throughout the country.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Current address: Department of Nutrition Research, Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amini
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran jazaiers@tums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Abolghassem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Djazayery
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Knowledge Utilization Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Majdzadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion and Health Education, School of Public Health, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad-Hossein
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Taghdisi
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Haleh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sadrzadeh-Yeganeh
authors.affiliation: Community Nutrition Department, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Abdollahi
authors.affiliation: Current address: Department of Nutrition Research, Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Nasrin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hosseinpour-Niazi
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chamari
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahdieh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nourmohammadi
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight / Q000628:therapy*; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000628:therapy*; D012574:Schools; D013334:Students; D015430:Weight Gain
keywords: child; diet; intervention; obesity; physical activity; schools