Right Diet: a television series to combat obesity among adolescents in Kuwait

Abstract

BackgroundAdolescent obesity is a growing public health problem in Kuwait. Reducing obesity can lower the risk of several chronic diseases. Fourteen obese adolescent boys volunteered to participate in a 6-month multidimensional television series on weight loss.MethodsThe adolescent boys were recruited through advertisements in schools. The program included counseling sessions, nutritional education, exercise, family support, peer group involvement, and incentives designed to motivate participants.ResultsThe mean age of the boys was 15.6 ± 0.8 years. On average, subjects lost 10.6 ± 8.9 kg in weight and gained 3.3 ± 1.6 cm in height during the study period. The difference in mean body mass index at baseline and at 6 months following intervention was significant (P < 0.001) at 36.8 ± 4.6 and 32.0 ± 5.4, kg/m2 respectively. Participants ranked counseling as the most important component of the program, followed by family support and type of program.ConclusionThis type of television series could be used as a model for future public health programs to prevent and control obesity among adolescents.

Effectiveness of school-based nutrition interventions promoted in the League of Arab States: a systematic review

“…Several theories suggest that health behavior is impacted by socio-environmental factors, as well as knowledge of perceived harm or benefits ( Conner, 2010 ). School and family settings ( Al Yazeedi et al ., 2021 ) pose as fundamental social environments for school-aged children, and as such, are critical settings to teach and model health behaviors. Given that schools provide a convenient setting for educational sessions, social (peer-influence) and direct environmental (distribution of healthy marketing and meals) interventions, school-based programs may be key to significant improvement of children/adolescents’ health if tailored correctly ( Hoelscher et al ., 2013 ; Murimi et al ., 2017 ; Jacob et al ., 2021 ).…”

Sahtak bi sahnak. Your health on your plate

“…So far, Arab interventions to prevent paediatric obesity are very scarce despite the increases in obesity rates (73,(79)(80)(81)(82)(83)(84)(85)(86)(87). This emphasizes the importance of designing and implementing theory-based nutrition intervention programmes to prevent obesity among children and adolescents representing the future generation of the region.…”