| Abstract: |
The overweight and obesity in adolescents are considered one ofthe health problems that increasing now worldwide. It is possible that if the adolescents obesity continues at its current rate, conditions related to type two diabetes such as(blindness, amputation, coronary artery disease, and kidney failure) and certain types of cancers will become ordinary in middle aged people.So our study was carried out to increase the nutritional awareness and to change attitude of adolescent students as a trial to control overweight and obesity among them.The study was composed of two parts. The first part of the study was a cross sectional study that was conducted on 328 males and females students in general secondary schools in Zagazig city during the academic year 2005- 2006. A multistage sampling technique was used. A self-administered questionnaire containing socio-demographic data of the students, and their life styles factors was used. We measured weight in kilograms, height in meters, waist and hip circumferences, skin fold thickness in mm then we calculate body mass index and waist hip ratio.The second part of the study was a health education intervention. A self administered questionnaire was used to assess knowledges and attitudes of students toward overweight and obesity. Then, health education message is given to all students. After two months all participants were asked to complete the same questionnaire form, then, the data were analyzed by using Epi info version 6.02.The results of the study indicated that:The prevalence of overweight and obesity was found to be (24.00%) but according to pattern of fat distribution about 58.2% of the overweight and obese students had peripheral obesity (WHR<0.85).The prevalence of overweight and obesity among females (26.74%) was significantly higher than that (21.15%) among males but according to patte distribution about (76.00%) of overweight and obese females had periphen while (66.70%) of males had central obesity. This relation was significant.None of the socio-demographic characteristics of students showed sigr association with overweight and obesity status of students. As regard patte distribution only socio-economic status of students which showed this sigl association where students with high socio-economic status had periphera’ while those with moderate one had central type.Regarding dietary factors there was significant association between OVl &obesity and breakfast intake, numbers of daily meals, high caloric intak~ snacks, but there was no significant association between overweight and 0 physical exercise. However according to pattern of fat distribution there v. significant associations with dietary factors.There was significant improvement in knowledge of students about bala healthy diet, definition of obesity, its causes, complications and preventiol attitudes toward seriousness of obesity after the health education interventFrom the above, we concluded that the adolescents overweight and obt significantly associated with skipping breakfast, taking more than three m frequently taking snacks and high caloric intake allover the day. The centr was significantly higher among male students and those of moderate socic status. While, the peripheral obesity was significantly higher among femal and those of high socioeconomic status. The health education intervention significantly improved knowledge and attitude of the students about the pI overweight and obesity.1. Nutritional education programs should be done to the mother’s having school children about importance of healthy balanced diet to promote healthy life styles among their children.2. Creation and application of a sustained school health education programs aiming to change knowledge, attitude and practice of students regarding their dietary habits.
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