The Effect of School-Based versus Family-Based Intervention on Weight Loss and Body Mass Index in Obese and Overweight 6-12-Years-Old Boy Students in Yazd City, Iran

Background: The purpose of the present study was to compare the effect of school-based versus family-based intervention on weight loss and body mass index (BMI) in obese and overweight students. Methods: The present quasi-experimental study was performed on 137 obese or overweight boy students aged 6-12 years at three schools in Yazd City, Iran, during the years 2018-2019. Of the three selected schools, the first and second schools were randomly assigned to the school-based and family-based intervention groups, respectively, and were trained by a nutritionist for six two-hour sessions. The third school was considered as the control group, and received no training. Weight, BMI, eating habits, and the level of physical activity of students were assessed, recorded, and compared before and six months after the intervention. Findings: There was a significant difference among the three groups regarding the level of physical activity (F = 11.307, df = 2, P < 0.001), eating habits (F = 11.868, df =2, P < 0.001), weight (F = 9.667, df = 2, P < 0.001), and BMI (F = 13.854, df = 2, P < 0.001). In addition, the effect of family-based intervention was significantly higher than that of the school-based intervention (P < 0.050). Conclusion: According to the results of the present study, although both training interventions had a positive effect on increasing physical activity, improving eating habits, and reducing weight loss and BMI, the effect of school-based training intervention was less than that of the family-based training intervention. Therefore, family-based training intervention can be regarded as the best type of intervention to increase physical activity, improve eating habits, control or reduce weight, and reduce BMI in 6-12-years-old students in Yazd City.