Effectiveness of an Educational Intervention on Nutrition and Physical Activity in an Adolescent Population. Prevention of Endocrine-metabolic and Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to verify an improvement in nutritional status and the adoption of healthy habits with respect to eating and physical activity in a population of students, following a health-education intervention. Study Materials and Methods: The sample was comprised of 90 adolescents between 15 and 17 years of age; 46 are male (51.1%) and 44, female (48.9%). All of them are from a public school in the city of Almeria (Spain). The study was conducted in three phases. The first phase involved an assessment of nutritional status. The second was comprised of an educational intervention on healthy habits with respect to eating and physical activity, while the third focused on an assessment of the effectiveness of that intervention. Results: Statistically, there was an improvement (p <0.000) in the nutritional status of the students who were evaluated, regardless of their gender. As to the adoption of healthy habits, significant differences in the Kreceplus test scores (p <0.000) were observed subsequent to the intervention, although not for physical activity (p = 0.568). Conclusions: The results show the procedures applied in this intervention to modify dietary habits were effective. Yet, physical exercise remains a pending issue among adolescents.