Learning Objective #1: Identify the effects of a school-based nursing intervention program on obese children

Learning Objective #2: Share together current school health issues in children and adolescents

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Objective: Recently obese children have been increasing due to rapid change in dietary pattern and increase sedentary life style. This study was conducted to identify effects of school-based program for rural obese children in Korea. Method: The subjects were 58 (experimental = 29, control = 29) 4th - 6th graders who reached over 130% by obese index {(Wt – Age-specific standard Wt) ¢¬ Age-specific standard Wt ¢¥ 100} developed in Korean Pediatric Society. The program was consisted of 12 sessions and conducted program during March to June 2002. The study variables were dietary habit, and dietary attitude surveyed by summated self-reported questionnaires and obese index; fat mass percentage examined by body composition analyzer (MESMED, BA 2000). The data were analyzed by Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Fisher's exact test, ¥ö2 –test, t-test and Wilcoxon rank sum test using SPSS PC program. Finding: Dietary habit (z = 3.038, p = .002) and dietary attitude (t = 2.673, p = .010) are changed more affirmatively and obesity index also decreased significantly (z = 3.480, p = .001) in experimental than in control group through nursing intervention program. Fat mass percentage, on the other hand, did not show significant difference by the program. Conclusion: Based on these findings, more frequent and intensive program need to develop not only in collaboration with health and school personnels but with parents. And school-based health promotion program be implemented as regular curricular basis to decrease of fat mass percentage to decrease fat mass percentage significantly.