Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Abstract BACKGROUND: Obesity has been identified as a serious global health concern whose prevalence
doubles almost every 10 years. Health education regarding physical activity and healthy diet imparted
to adolescents could prove to be fruitful in reducing obesity‑risk. Objectives of this study were to
evaluate the effect of health education intervention on knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP)
regarding obesity‑risk reduction and to estimate the postinterventional change in body mass
index (BMI) and total body fat (%) among adolescent school children in South India.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Stratified cluster randomized controlled trial was carried out among
398 students recruited at baseline including 206 and 192 participants in intervention and control
group respectively selected through simple random sampling from eligible government aided and
private schools to assess KAP regarding physical activity and diet using pretested and validated
questionnaire by making three school visits 6 months apart. Anthropometric measurements were
recorded in first and third visit only, while health education intervention was given in first visit to
intervention and third visit to control group after taking their responses on the questionnaire. Data
were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 15.
RESULTS: Overall dropout rate was 13.5% with dropout in intervention and control group being
12.6% and 14.5% respectively, making 180 participants in intervention and 164 in control group
available for analysis. Mean physical activity KAP score improved significantly from 16.19 ± 4.61
to 19.46 ± 10.07 in intervention group. Mean dietary KAP score also improved significantly from
21.38 ± 4.07 to 23.43 ± 4.53 in intervention group (p < 0.001). Mean BMI decreased significantly
within intervention group (p < 0.001) as compared to control group (p = 0.908). Based on cut‑off level
for total body fat (%) to categorize obesity‑risk among participants, statistically significant decline in
proportions from 26.1% to 13.3% was observed in intervention group (p < 0.001).
CONCLUSION: Results depicted better KAP in intervention group than control group in all the three
visits while it improved significantly within both groups. Hence, the health education was found to
be effective in improving the overall KAP regarding modifiable risk factors of obesity among the
study participants. Further studies to screen the adolescents for obesity‑risk and successive health
education sessions must be carried within schools in order to bring about change in knowledge,
attitude, and practices regarding obesity‑risk.

Abstract BACKGROUND: The influence of western lifestyle such as high‑caloric dense food and sedentary
lifestyle has a great influence on Indian children, and the current prevalence of childhood overweight
in India ranges between 4% and 22%. The primary aim of the study was to determine the change
in growth parameters (waist circumference) as well as dietary behaviors at baseline and at the
end of first, third, sixth, and ninth months among overweight adolescent girls and boys following a
school‑based nutritional education program.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted in 2019 in four urban schools at Puducherry
which were randomly assigned to study and control groups by lottery method, and 140 overweight
children aged 11–14 years were in the study group and 140 children were in the control group.
Simple random sampling method was used to select the samples A nutrition education program
highlighting the importance of balanced nutrition and the ill effects of obesity was imparted to students
in the study group through a PowerPoint presentation. As a means of reinforcement, posters and
pamphlets were distributed. The waist circumference and the mean calorie, protein, and fat intake
were assessed at baseline and at the first, third, sixth, and ninth months and compared between
groups using independent t test.
RESULTS: There was a statistically significant reduction in waist circumference in the study group
when compared to the control group at P < 0.05. A significant decrease in the calorie intake at
P < 0.001 and fat intake at P < 0.01 was observed in the study group. The protein intake in the study
group increased at the end of 9 months, which was significant at P < 0.001.
CONCLUSION: School‑based nutritional education program has been found to be a successful
intervention in controlling unnecessary weight gain among overweight adolescents.

Abstract BACKGROUND: Overweight and obesity are one of the most public health problems in the world.
Considering obesity prevalence and its widespread health, economic, psychological, and social
consequences, this study aimed to explain the consequences of obesity among women and men in
the Kurdish region of Mukryan.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The present qualitative study was conducted in the Mukryan Kurdish
region in West Azerbaijan province in Iran from June 2017 to November 2017. Data were collected
by deep interview, focus group and dialogue with 111 obese and thin men and women and various
fields experts who were selected by purposive sampling, and analyzed by qualitative content analysis
technique of conventional type and Graneheim and Lundman steps.
RESULTS: Data analysis results were classified into two categories and 12 subcategories: Favorable
consequences of normal obesity (social acceptance, internalization of obesity, and reproduction
of the family institution), unfavorable consequences of extreme obesity (decreasing agency,
physical‑psychological dysfunctionalities, family fragility, prevalence of passive leisure, clothing
obligation, social objectivity, exogenous and endogenous social exclusion, imposing economic costs,
and devaluation of life).
CONCLUSION: With due attention to unfavorable consequences of extreme obesity on health,
illness, social issues and costs, simultaneously with the adoption of preventive approaches to obesity
through targeted policies in education, health literacy, promotion of sport culture, development of
sports context especially for women, improving recreational facilities, etc., appropriate planning and
interventions should be designed and applied for changing the behavior, culture, and community
beliefs in dealing with obesity phenomenon.

eywords:

Abstract BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the common cause of
Oligo‑ovulation. This syndrome causes long‑term metabolic issues as well as increase the risk of
diabetes type 2, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular disease. The current research aimed
to study the effect of green tea on weight and hormonal changes of women suffering from PCOS.
METHODS: This two group, double‑blind, randomized clinical trial was conducted in Isfahan city.
Overweight women suffering from PCOS (n = 60) were randomly divided into two groups. Green
tea was prescribed to the experimental group, and placebo was prescribed to the control group.
Free testosterone hormones and fasting insulin were compared in both groups at the beginning and
12 weeks after the study commencement. The weight of participants of both groups was also measured
before and after the study. The statistical data were analyzed by SPSS software and paired t‑test.
RESULTS: The paired t‑test showed that there was no significant difference in the mean weight
of both groups before the intervention (P = 0.812), but the difference was significant after the
intervention (P = 0.031). There was no significant difference in the mean fasting insulin of both groups
before the intervention (P = 0.352), but the difference was significant after the intervention (P < 0.0001).
Moreover, there was no significant difference in the mean free testosterone level of both groups before
the intervention (P = 0.638), but the difference was significant after the intervention (P < 0.0001).
CONCLUSION: The consumption of green tea by overweight and obese women suffering from PCOS
leads to weight loss, a decrease in fasting insulin, and a decrease in the level of free testosterone.

Abstract Background: The health status of medical practitioners can potentially impact their ability
to counsel patients. The purpose of the study was to examine the prevalence of obesity and
behaviors associated with the development of metabolic disease among medical practitioners
in the country of Jordan. Materials and Methods: The participants were 748 (male n = 285,
32.3 years ± 7.3, female n = 463, 29.7 years ± 5.7) randomly selected pharmacists, nurses,
physicians, medical lab technicians, and radiation specialists from a variety of medical
institutions in Jordan. A short 25‑item validated instrument was chosen for this investigation.
After the survey was administered and data were tabulated, one‑way analysis of variance
and Pearson’s Chi‑square analysis were conducted to examine differences in reported risk
behaviors (low physical activity [PA], smoking) and obesity by gender, age and medical
specialty. Results: Descriptive analysis revealed that 20.9% of the participants self‑reported as
smokers of cigarettes, 47.9% were either overweight or obese, and 52.9% reported no days of
planned PA on average per week. The results suggested a difference in body mass index (BMI)
classification (F = 17.9, P ≤ 0.001) and smoking (F = 5.33, P = 0.021) by age. Mean age
associated with being underweight was 26.4 years for normal weight 29.3 years for overweight
31.6 years and finally for obese was 34.5 years. Chi‑square test resulted in differences by
gender(2 > 50, P ≤ 0.001)forBMI (males: 26.4 ± 3.7; females: 24.6 ± 3.7),PA (males no planned
PA 61.1%, females 47.9%) and smoking (males 43.1% smokers, females 7.1%). Researchers
discovered that medical specialty was related to differences in reported smoking (2 = 26.5,
P ≤ 0.001) and days of planned PA (2 = 24.2, P = 0.019). Conclusions: Within the population
of medical practitioners there is still a high incidence of obesity and risk behaviors associated
with metabolic diseases. It also appears that
these incidence rates are greater among
men, with increasing age, and among certain
medical specialties.

Abstract Background and Aim: Adolescents’ overweight problems have been paid much attention due
to their significant increase in recent decades in developed countries. Poor eating patterns
subsequently affect their self‑efficacy and self‑concept. Therefore, paying attention to the
nutritional knowledge of overweight students in this period is essential. This study examines the
relationship between self‑efficacy, self‑concept, and nutritional knowledge of overweight students
in the city of Isfahan. Materials and Methods: The 140 overweight students who participated in
this descriptive, analytical study with were randomly selected from one of five areas of Isfahan
city in the year 2011‑2012. Questionnaires for data collection in this study included demographic
form, nutrition knowledge, Cooper Smith self‑esteem, and general self‑efficacy questionnaire.
Data were analyzed by ANOVA, regression, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient with statistical
package in social sciences version 18. Results: There was a significant correlation between
whole nutritional knowledge and self‑efficacy (r = 0.29, P > 0.001) and self‑concept (r = 0.26,
P = 0.002). There was a significant correlation between self‑efficacy and self‑concept (r = 0.3,
P = 0.001). Furthermore, in the selection of food section there was no significant correlation with the
self‑concept (r = 0.147, P = 0.083). Regression analysis between self‑concept, self‑efficacy, family
dimension, father’s education, mother’s education, father’s occupation, mother’s occupationa
and income with nutrition knowledge showed that these eight variables explain 17.7% of the
variance in health behaviors totally. Conclusion: By conducting this study, and revealing the direct
relationship between nutritional knowledge, self‑concept, and self‑efficacy, we could conclude
that if nutritional knowledge of overweight students is promoted, this factor would lead to an
increase their self‑concept and self‑efficacy in order to adopt healthy behaviors and have the
expected healthy eating and healthy life‑style.