Obesity Prevention in Schoolchildren (CRECES)

Design and Evaluation of a Strategy to Prevent Overweight and Obesity in Schoolchildren in Mexico City

The purpose of this study is to design, implement and evaluate an intervention oriented to change alimentary practices and patterns of physical activity of children through educative activities with parents, teachers and children in school of Mexico city.

In Mexico, obesity is becoming the most public health problem. The increase in body mass is associated with the changes in the alimentary environment, resources for physical activity in a context of poor health literacy of the population and low efficacy of the health system. Schools, as social settings, are a opportunity for obesity prevention. The study includes three phases: 1) evaluation of training, in which the psychological context in which obesity is generated is evaluated. The evaluation will be performed by collection of qualitative and quantitative information, 2) design a strategy from the information obtained. The intervention will include working sessions with teachers, parents and children, establishment of schools in window counseling in nutrition and physical activity and the secretion of a website to not communicate with the public and Provide information, 3) evaluation of the strategy in a community trial with two groups of schools, one intervention and one control.

After obtaining the approval of schools and parents, will be established in schools, units in which individual attention is given to children, parents and teachers that request: the advice is aimed at training users on healthy diet and constant physical activity. Workshops with children, in which selected topics will be discussed based on the analysis of depth interviews with children, parents and teachers, and information on habits and resources gathered through questionnaires will be conducted. The intervention included the provision of information and feedback with the population through a website. The work will include participation in the selection of foods sold in schools.

We will intent to modify the diet of the children. The intervention is designed to promote the increase the intake of fruits and vegetables and to reduce the high density foods consumption.

Inclusion Criteria: Children students in selected schools Anthropometric diagnostic of normality or overweight Informed consent of parents Exclusion Criteria: Children with special diet or children with limited motor functioning