"The Prevalence of Obesity among Female School Children"

 
 1. PROJECT TITLE (maximum 200 characters) Randomised Controlled Trial of lifestyle modification (physical activity and dietary modification) intervention to reduce high BMI equal or greater than the 85th percentile to the normal range between 50th percentiles to less than the 85th percentile in female from 6-8 in Arar, Saudi Arabia? 2. SIMPLIFIED PROJECT TITLE (maximum 80 characters) Effectiveness of a lifestyle intervention using RCT design to reducing high BMI of girls in Arar, Saudi Arabia Title Title University of Canberra, University Drive, Bruce, ACT 2617 ( Academic Centre) At 6 public schools in Arar, Saudi Arabia 8. PROJECT SUMMARY (maximum 1 page) The aim of this project is to test health and lifestyle intervention through Randomized Controlled Trial or RCT method. The subject of this RCT will be Saudi Arabian female children with age ranging from 6 to 8 years. The primary hypothesis is that lifestyle and nutritional interventions can positively alter children’s eating behaviour and increase physical activity resulting to reduced BMI in children. It is also hypothesized that children have little control over their environment thus strong parental support is necessary. The research plan is to conduct a Randomized Controlled trial involving 6 schools, female students with age ranging from 6 to 8 years in Arar, Saudi Arabia. Six schools will be selected and participants with approved parental consent form (see Appendix A) will be randomly selected to form two groups. One for intervention and the other is for control group. Their weight and height will be recorded at the start of the trial, monitored, and measured every 2 weeks until the end of the six months trial. The difference in the BMI level will determine if nutritional education and physically activity has an effect of obesity. The significance of this project is the fact the results of the RCT can help future interventions to develop appropriate approaches in reducing children overweight and obesity particularly in the Saudi Arabian region. Similarly, government entities such as the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education to improve their strategies and create programs that can effectively promote healthy diet and active lifestyle such as inclusion of physical exercises in the school curriculum and encouraging parents to serve their children healthy foods. Moreover, result of this project can help government reduce health care spending through prevention of diseases commonly caused by obesity. 9. LAY DESCRIPTION (maximum 80 words) The project will conduct a 6 months Randomised Controlled Trial to determine if high BMI > 85% of female Saudi Arabian children, 6 to 8 years of age will be reduced to normal range. The reduction will be based on the result of BMI (measurement of body fat using height and weight) and Triceps skinfold or assessment of body fat using skinfold calipers 10.1 Background Background In the study conducted by Awatif Alam1 in 2008 regarding the prevalence of obesity among female school children in grades 4 to 6 in North West Riyadh, 14.9% of students were obese. This obesity was found not only inversely increased by age but also more prevalent (95%) in children belonging to affluent families. Other findings include 89.2 % of children doing some exercise but some 13.8% were still obese. Obese children are commonly those that are consuming fast food, soft drinks, and always watching television. The conclusion of the study points to the importance of school and family cooperation during intervention in matching the changes in social and cultural context. Although not intended for female school children, the Saudi Arabian-based study of Al-Hazzaa2 between 1988 and 2005 to find the prevalence and trends in obesity among school boys 6 to 14 years of age in the central region is reveals the significant increase in BMI, body fatness, and prevalence of obesity. The identified causes were low physical activities and excessive television viewing while education, research, and intervention were viewed as ways to treat and prevent childhood obesity. Causes of obesity in childhood include the interaction between several factors such susceptibility and environmental factors responsible for increased food intake and decreasing energy expenditure.