Effect of Nutritional Education on Nutrition Knowledge and Dietary Behavior in Overweight and Obese Children

摘要

The aim of the present study was to explore the effect of nutrition and health education combined with exercise intervention on nutrition knowledge and dietary intake attitudes in overweight and obesity children. A self-controlled experimental design was adopted in this study and 78 overweight and obese children come from two primary schools were voluntarily participated in this study and their parents gave written agreement. The results indicated that (1) Nutrition education programs and exercise intervention can significantly reduce the body weight, BMI and waist circumference and help the body height growth in the overweight and obese children, however this change required a long-term process; (2) Nutrition education improve the nutrition knowledge of overweight obese children and deepen understanding of food nutrients; and (3) Nutrition education intervention can also change the dietary intake attitude and behavior in overweight and obese children, therefore to control body weight and achieve the target of weight reduction. The findings revealed that the nutrition and health education combined with exercise intervention on the regulation of body weight and morphology in obese children have a positive effect, increase the nutrition knowledge, improve eating behaviors and beneficial to develop good exercise habits.