The Effects of a Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Body Image Intervention on Girls in Intermediate Schools in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: This cluster-randomized study aimed to evaluate the effects of an intervention focused on physical activity, nutrition, and body image perception among girls in intermediate schools in Saudi Arabia. A seminar was delivered to the mothers of the girls in the experimental group. The experimental group then attended six interactive sessions within 3 months featuring physical activity, nutrition, and body image perception, followed by a 3-month follow-up period. A total of 138 respondents (68 in the experimental group and 70 in the control group) completed the intervention. Each participant’s body mass index-for-age z-score and waist circumference were measured, and they completed a physical activity, sedentary behavior, and body image perception questionnaires before and after the intervention and at the follow-up. The intervention was evaluated using within- and between-groups generalized estimating equations. There were no significant changes in the respondents’ body mass index-for-age z-score or waist circumference (p > 0.05). However, immediate significant improvements were seen in physical activity, sedentary behavior, and body image satisfaction among the experimental group, and these improvements remained at follow-up (p < 0.001). These differences were more significant among the experimental group than among the control group. We found this intervention effective. Future studies can adapt this intervention for adolescent boys and extend its duration to improve the body mass index outcome.

A systematic review of school-based weight-related interventions in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries

“…As illustrated in Table 1 , six studies were conducted in Saudi Arabia [ 35 , 37 , 39 , 41 , 44 , 45 ], two in Kuwait [ 36 , 43 ], and one each in Qatar [ 38 ], the UAE [ 40 ] and Oman [ 42 ]. All included studies were published between 2017 and 2022 except the one by Shama and Abdou [ 42 ] in Oman, which was published in 2009.…”

“…All included studies were published between 2017 and 2022 except the one by Shama and Abdou [ 42 ] in Oman, which was published in 2009. Out of the eleven studies, six were randomised controlled trials [ 35 – 37 , 39 , 41 , 43 ], four were pre-post studies [ 38 , 40 , 44 , 45 ] and one used a static group comparison design [ 42 ]. Six studies were purely quantitative [ 35 , 39 – 42 , 45 ], and two adopted a mixed methods design [ 43 , 44 ].…”

“…In six studies, the study participants were girls only [ 35 , 37 , 39 , 43 – 45 ], while four studies had male and female students [ 36 , 38 , 40 , 42 ] and one study had only male participants [ 41 ]. In six studies, the participants were students from intermediate and/or secondary schools [ 35 , 37 , 39 , 42 – 44 ], two studies had primary school students [ 36 , 38 ], one had students from primary, intermediate, and secondary schools [ 41 ], while the school education stage was not clearly reported in two studies [ 40 , 45 ]. The number of schools participating in the studies ranged from one [ 38 , 43 – 45 ] to thirty [ 42 ].…”

“…The study’s control group (C) received no information about the pedometer function or rewards Training: Participants were given pedometers and were instructed to wear the pedometers throughout the physical activity sessions and to achieve a certain number of step counts Anthropometrics: NS difference between boys and girls in the average BMI ( p = 0.15) Physical activity: The average step counts were (2091 ± 483) for CG, (2655 ± 577) for FB, and (3429 ± 458) for FB + R. Significant increase in the average step counts among FB + R compared with CG as well as among FB group compared with CG ( p < 0.001) NM Al-Mughamisi (2021) [ 44 ] Saudi Arabia Training: Students conducted canteen food-scaping to identify the current provisions and assess healthfulness. Intervention-modelling workshops, using semi-structured questionnaires, were executed for stakeholders (10 students, 11 MoE and school staff) to identify the content and mode of delivery of the canteen intervention Enablement: The study highlights the importance of developing partnerships with relevant stakeholders to assess the acceptability of the intervention and foster communication Modelling: Students who engaged with the intervention may influence other peers to do so Environmental restructuring: The school food environment was modified, enabling more healthful food choices Restrictions: Restricting access to unhealthy foods was applied as part of the environmental changes Diet: Significant increase in students who consumed healthy food options from 6 to 34% ( p = 0.001), healthy drink options from 11 to 32% ( p = 0.01) SEM Bahathig (2022) [ 37 ] Saudi Arabia Education: Several information sessions included discussions, educating the participants about nutrition, physical activity, and body image perception. The participants were also asked to provide self-reported data at three-time points: pre-intervention, post-intervention, and follow-up Training: Participants were engaged in practical activities related to nutrition, physical activity, and body image perception, including matching food groups with the “Healthy Food Palm”, comparing food labels, warm-up exercises, skipping, walking, dancing using the hoop and jogging Enablement: Various teaching aids such as PowerPoint presentations, booklets, games, papers and cards, school boards, group discussions, and stickers were used to enhance the learning experience and engage the participants in the intervention Anthropometrics: NS difference in BAZ ( p = 0.51) or WC ( p > 0.7) between all pre-, post-intervention and follow-up values Physical activity: Significant difference in physical activity between pre-intervention and post-intervention ( p < 0.001), between pre-intervention and follow-up ( p < 0.001), and between post-interv...…”

Emotional Intelligence, Physical Activity Practice and Mediterranean Diet Adherence-An Explanatory Model in Elementary Education School Students

“…In contrast, a positive relationship is observed between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and physical activity. In view of this statement, Ahmad-Bahathig et al [ 48 ] state that there is an awareness among adolescents of the health benefits of physical activity and the Mediterranean Diet in terms of an active and healthy lifestyle. Likewise, it is also observed that there is a positive relationship between Mediterranean Diet adherence and emotional intelligence, coinciding with the results of López-Olivares et al [ 49 ], who claim that a healthy diet helps to improve people’s physical and mental health.…”