Programa de autoeficacia hacia hábitos saludables para la prevención de la obesidad en escolares Mexicanos

Abstract

Program to improve self-efficacy towards healthy habits to prevent obesity in schoolchildren in Mexico. Several theoretical cognitive and psychosocial models point out that a high self-efficacy towards healthy habits and behaviors prevent obesity and increase quality of life. However, there is little background on the effect of obesity prevention interventions on self-efficacy in childhood. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of an obesity prevention program (OPP) on self-efficacy to carry out healthy habits. A longitudinal quasi-experimental design with three measurements (pretest, posttest and 16-month follow-up) was conducted. A non-probabilistic sample was formed by 112 students aged 8 to 10 years (M = 8.83; SD = 0.62) enrolled in the third and fourth grades in a public school at Mexico City. The data was analyzed with a repeated measures ANOVA. After the application of the PPO, boys and girls significantly increased their self-efficacy in the reduction of foods with low nutritional value. At 16 months of follow-up, the effects on that same factor were maintained in general. The intervention increased self-efficacy to eliminate emotional eating. The self-efficacy to choose healthy foods improved significantly in girls, while self-efficacy towards physical activity increased in boys. Compared to boys, girls showed a higher score on self-efficacy towards healthy behaviors during follow-up. The results of the PPO are promising to prevent childhood obesity. Future controlled studies should analyze intervention effect on other variables, such as restricted diet and body mass index.