The effect of nutrition education course on awareness of obese and overweight female 1st‑year High School students of Isfahan based on transtheoretical model of behavioral change
Volume 8, Issue 6, June 2018, Pages 1-5
. Alireza Rahimi, . Mozhdeh Hashemzadeh, . Firoozeh Zare‑Farashbandi, . Amir Mansur Alavi Naeini, . Akbar Hasanzadeh
Abstract BACKGROUND/AIM: Today, the problem of obesity is a chronic condition that affects all age groups
in developed and developing countries. Since adolescence is a transitional period and behavioral
patterns formed in this period affect people in their adult years, attention to obesity and extra weight
in this age group is more important than other groups. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the
effects of nutrition education course on awareness of female 1st‑year high school students of Isfahan
based on transtheoretical model ( TTM) of behavioral change.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this semi‑empirical study, 64 female 1st‑year high school students
with weight problem were selected using nonpercent stratified sampling and divided into two control
and test groups. Data gathering was carried out using researcher‑made nutrition awareness and
stages of change questionnaire whose validity and reliability was confirmed. Participants in the
test group participated in a 2‑month education with sessions every 2 weeks and received one
brochure and 3 educational massages each week. Data were analyzed using independent t‑test
and Mann–Whitney test.
RESULTS: The results showed that the average nutrition awareness score of students in test group
was significantly higher than control group after intervention. Students in test group were also in
higher stages of change compared to control group after intervention.
CONCLUSION: The results show that TTM was effective in changing nutritional behavior in students.