Those in the intervention group were asked to cut down on TV and computer viewing, and reduce their consumption of sugary drinks. They also received extra tuition about
healthy living at school: “key messages” about diet and exercise were included in a range of lessons, and the children took part in two five-to-seven minute sessions of
exercise a day.
Parents of the children were sent letters about helping to prevent weight gain and the family was given homework!
Children were assessed four months after the end of the intervention, and Dr Wabitsch found that those in the intervention group showed less weight gain than controls. All showed an increase in body fat mass, which is normal for children of this age, but the increase in the intervention group was half that seen in controls.
It meant that, at assessement, children in the intervention group had an abdominal circumference almost 1 cm less than that of controls, and 260 g less fat mass.
“These interventions had a small but significant effect that's sustainable”, Wabitsch said.
Preventive health for children has shifted from medicine to schools, he added, suggesting that schoolbased prevention programmes may be effective because most children attend and much of their eating and exercise takes place there.
Furthermore, intervention in schools can harness the peer group to support and enhance motivation. “Vaccination is medical history,” Wabitsch said. “Children spend a lot of time in school where we can change their eating and physical behaviour.
“It's not yet a duty for children and schools, but there could be a new role for teachers. They should be role models and guide children's behaviour as parents should do, but
don't do anymore.”