Program Obesity Zero (POZ) – a community-based intervention to address overweight primary-school children from five Portuguese municipalities

摘要

ObjectiveResults of the WHO European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative indicated that on average one out of four primary-school children is overweight or obese. Portugal presented one of the highest prevalences of obesity. Childhood obesity prevention and treatment should be a top priority. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Program Obesity Zero (POZ), a multi-component, community-, family- and school-based childhood obesity intervention.DesignParents and children attended four individual nutrition and physical activity counselling sessions, a one-day healthy cooking workshop and two school extracurricular sessions of nutrition education. Waist circumference, BMI, physical activity level, sedentary behaviours, and nutrition and physical activity knowledge, attitudes and behaviour were assessed at baseline and after 6 months. Diet was assessed using two 24 h recalls, at baseline and at 6 months.SettingFive Portuguese municipalities and local communities.SubjectsTwo hundred and sixty-six overweight children (BMI a‰￥ 85th percentile) aged 6a€“10 years, from low-income families in five Portuguese municipalities, were assigned to the intervention.ResultsChildren showed reductions in waist circumference (a?’2?·0 cm; P < 0?·0001), mean BMI (a?’0?·7 kg/m2; P < 0?·0001) and BMI-for-age percentile (a?’1?·7; P < 0?·0001) at 6 months. Overall, children's intake of fruit and vegetables was