Introduction Objective Methodology Results

283 An Intervention Programme Among Overweight Primary School Children ABSTRACT An Intervention Programme among Overweight Primary School Children Shir-Ley Gui 1 , Saerah Shaharuddin 1 , Sheleaswani Inche Zainal Abidin 1 , Ainul Salhani Abdul Rahman 1 , Kulandaimmal Lourdusamy 1 , Amar-Singh HSS 2,5 , Sondi Sararaks 3 , Marina Kamaruddin 4 , Asmah Zainal Abidin 4 , Normah Mohd Zain 4 1 Kinta District Health Department 2 Clinical Research Centre Perak 3 Institute of Health Systems Research 4 Perak State Health Department 5 Department of Paediatrics, Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun Ipoh, Perak Introduction and Objectives Obesity is defined as an excessive accumulation of body fat. The onset of obesity may occur at any age. Five years’ data 2002-2006 obtained from the School Health Services, in district of Kinta, Perak shows that the prevalence of obesity defined as weight-for-height in excess of 120 percent of the ideal, ranges from 6.30 to 8.90 among Year 1 students; 12.80 to 17.00 among Year 6 students and 8.50 to 13.30 among Form 3 students, respectively. The objective of this study is to evaluate an intervention programme among overweight primary school children. Methodology SK Haji Mahmood was selected as the intervention school and SK Perpaduan was selected as the control school. Body mass indexes BMI for year 4 and 5 students were calculated and those with BMI 19.84 were included in the study. A total of 70 and 83 students from intervention and control schools respectively were given consent by their parents to be involved in this study. Subjects in both schools were given a self-administered questionnaire to assess dietary knowledge and habit, and physical activity and had their BMI calculated, at baseline bl, pi-1 pi-1, after 3 months and post intervention 2 pi-2, after 6 months. Intervention group was seen monthly as part of the programme. Subjects were given knowledge on dietary and physical aspects in seminars, small group discussion, quizzes and games. Control group was seen only during data collections. Results There was no significant difference in BMI between intervention and control group. There was an increment in percentage of intervention group having good nutrition knowledge but it was not significant bl, p=0.357; pi-1, p=0.061; pi-2, p=0.152. There was also no significant difference in meal practice in both groups. As for food frequency habit, there were significant difference at bl p=0.048 and pi-2 p=0.027. Intake of leafy vegetables, other vegetables, fruit, fish, chicken and pulses also showed no significant differences. There were no significant differences in perception on family, except at pi-2 p=0.043