Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of school-based obesity prevention intervention on body mass index (BMI), percent body fat, and health-related behaviors in children.
Method: 96 students who were in grades 4~6 of Busan Sajik elementary school and 136 students in the same grades of Keumgang elementary school received obesity prevention intervention and the usual curriculum, respectively. At baseline (March, 2006) and postintervention (September, 2006), their BMI, percent body fat were measured and they completed a class room-administered questionnaire. Statistical analyses were performed using mixed model ANCOVA.
Results: Compared to children in the control school, BMI and percent body fat at postintervention for children in the intervention school were not significantly different after adjusting for age, sex, and baseline measurements. Children in the intervention school had more desirable scores in eating habits (P = 0.058), physical activity and exercise participation (P = 0.015), eating attitudes (P = 0.003), self-efficacy (P = 0.018), and health promotion behaviors (P = 0.001) compared with children in the control school.
Conclusion: A school-based obesity prevention program offered in grades 4~6 produced more desirable changes in health-related behaviors than in adiposity.

Keywords: Prevention of childhood obesity, health related behaviors, adiposity, school