The effect of nutrition education on knowledge, nutrients intake, and physical activity of children with overweight and obesity at elementary school in Jakarta Indonesia

Abstract

Background: Obesity is one of the triple burden malnutrition in Indonesia, alongside undernutrition that increasing over the years. The study was done to evaluate the effect of four weeks nutrition education intervention among children with overweight and obesity. Methods: This study was a cluster randomized control trial in two elementary school in Jakarta. SD Kramat Pela 07 were selected as a control and SD Kramat Pela 09 as an intervention group. Intervention on school children were conducted for four weeks. Samples were students who were selected with the criteria of having overweight and obesity. An education through video was delivered from the teachers consecutively to the students every week. Nutrition knowledge was collected with a Google-form questionnaire that consist of 15 questions. Nutrient intake was collected with 24-hour recalls before and after the intervention. Results: A significant increase of nutrition knowledge on both group after the intervention (p<0.05). There was a significant change of fiber intake (p<0.05) after four weeks of intervention. The average duration of physical activity for respondents showed an increase in the intervention group, but it was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Conclusions: After four weeks intervention, nutrition education improved the knowledge, nutrients intake, and physical activity among school children with overweight and obesity. We recommend the school authorities to enhance the capacity and capabilities of teachers in fostering efforts to improve the health and nutrition of students through school-based learning. Additionally, the consumption of fiber is considered an indicator of healthy food quality in controlling overweight and obesity.