The effectiveness of dietary instruction in obese school XXXX of southern Taiwan.

@entity1 @entity1560 @entity28 @entity6283 @entity165
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the short-term effectiveness of a weekly dietary instruction program to reduce @entity28 in elementary school @entity1 . A total of 140 third- to sixth-grade overweight @entity1 and 130 height- and age-matched overweight @entity1 were selected from two elementary schools in Kaohsiung. The primary inclusion criterion was a Rohrer's Index [RI = weight (kg)/height (cm)3 x 10(7)] greater than 150. The anthropometric measurement was performed on both the group receiving instruction and the group not receiving instruction. Biomedical monitoring of the students state of health, assessments of their nutritional knowledge, attitude and practice (K.A.P.) before and after the thirteen-week instruction were compared in the instruction group. After completion of the instruction program, a significant reduction of RI values (177.2 +/- 18.3 vs. 169.4 +/- 20.1, p < 0.01), and a significant increase in body height (144.9 +/- 7.7 cm vs. 146.7 +/- 7.7 cm, p < 0.01), with no change in body weight (54.5 +/- 11.3 kg vs. 54.3 +/- 11.3 kg) were found in the group receiving instruction. Some of the anthropometric parameters of @entity28 were also significantly improved. Reduction of total @entity165 and serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase (GOT)/Glutamic Pyrvic Transaminase ( @entity6283 ) levels were also observed; the later phenomena were interpreted as an improvement in the @entity1560 , which usually accompanies @entity28 . A significantly increased nutrition knowledge and change to more healthy dietary behavior were also found in students who finished the instruction program. This reduction was a measure of the effectiveness of weekly dietary instruction sessions. An increase in NSQ scores indicated improved nutritional knowledge and behavior. Through the implementation of weekly nutritional instruction, a decrease in RI can be achieved in a thirteen-week period. We propose that frequent nutritional education should be part of the curriculum of elementary school @entity1 in order to prevent @entity28 .
