title: Effect of an obesity prevention program focused on motivating environments in childhood: a school-based prospective study.
abstract: There has been an increasing global recognition of the need for effective strategies to prevent and control childhood obesity. In this study, we aimed to identify the effectiveness of an obesity prevention program focused on motivating environments in school.
  
  
  
  In this school-based, prospective, quasi-experimental study, we enrolled three elementary (fourth graders) and two middle (seventh graders) schools located in Chungju, Korea. We assigned three of the schools to the intervention group and two schools to the control group. The intervention group received 1 year of environmental intervention. Diet- and exercise-related educational video content was provided by internet protocol television services during rest time, and various design materials were painted along the school staircase and hallway to encourage physical activities. Overweight and obese students were recommended to join the summer vacation obesity care program.
  
  
  
  The final number of total participants was 768 (control 350 and intervention 418). After 1 year of follow-up, there was no significant difference in the overweight/obesity incidence rates and remission rates between the two groups. However, the intervention group showed a greater decrease in the body mass index (BMI) z-score (-0.11 (95% confidence interval (CI) -0.16 to -0.06), P<0.001), increase in height (1.1 cm (95% CI 0.8 to 1.4), P<0.001), reduction of body fat, and increase in muscle mass compared with the control group. In addition, blood pressure (BP) was significantly reduced, and significant improvement in physical fitness followed. In subgroup analysis, students of normal weight, boys and younger participants showed the most beneficial results in weight-related outcomes. In addition, the BP reduction was more pronounced in the higher BMI group, boys and older children.
  
  
  
  A simple environmental intervention could effectively influence children. By adding to previously studied strategies, we can develop a more effective obesity prevention program for children.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: B
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-0901-4903
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: E Y
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: H K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.|Institute of Catholic Ubiquitous Health Care, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: H-S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Institute of Catholic Ubiquitous Health Care, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: S-Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Institute of Catholic Ubiquitous Health Care, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: J-H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Bucheon St Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: S-S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Seoul St Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: B-K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.|Institute of Catholic Ubiquitous Health Care, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: K-H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D000072001:Diet, Healthy; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010290:Parents; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012572:School Health Services; D012931:Social Environment; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013690:Television; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000502:physiology; D061217:Weight Reduction Programs / Q000379:methods*