The effect of nutrition education on body mass index, waist circumference, mid-upper arm circumference and blood pressure in obese adolescents

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of the study was to determine the effect of nutrition education in the form of DASH diet booklets on body mass index, waist circumference, mid-upper arm circumference, and blood pressure in obese adolescents. Methods: This study was quasi-experimental, which is pre-test and post-test with control group design. The number of subjects was 60 respondents. The groups in this study were divided into two; one treatment group and one control group. The first group was given a nutrition education intervention with a booklet and the second group was not treated. Data analysis used paired t-test and independent t-test (p=0.05; CI=95%), Wilcoxon test, Mann-Whitney test, and Spearman rank test. Results: There were differences in BMI, waist circumference, mid-upper arm circumference, and significant systolic blood pressure in the treatment group after the intervention. The mean average of the treatment group decreased significantly; BMI: 0.36±0.05 kg/m2; waist circumference: 0.84±0.14 cm; mid-upper arm circumference: 0.37±0.63 cm, and systolic blood pressure: 1.13±1.36 mmHg. In the control group the average BMI, waist circumference, mid-upper arm circumference, and systolic blood pressure were increased significantly. The treatment group experienced a decrease in energy intake by 524.65±85.77 kcal while physical activity increased by 0.635±0.09. Conversely, the control group experienced an increase in energy intake by 147.29±25.18 kcal, while physical activity decreased by 0.470±0.08. Changes in energy intake and physical activity between the treatment group and the control group were identified as significant correlations (p<0.001). Similar to it, the changes in the BMI, waist circumference, mid-upper arm circumference, and significant systolic blood pressure were identified as significant correlations (p<0.001). Application: The use of booklets can be a solution for the continuation of effective nutrition education as the nutritional information becomes easier to be comprehended and adapted by the booklet recipients and used in everyday life.