Objective: School-based health promotion program was initiated for obese children in collaboration with public health center, primary school and nursing research institution in Korea.

Method: The subjects were 35 children among 4^th - 6^th graders who reached over 150% by Röhrer index [Ht(cm) ÷ Wt(kg)³ ×  10⁷] in a rural school. The program was  consisted of 8 sessions: 5 in spring and 3 in fall semester with 2-day summer camp. And exercise was guided by one school nurse and one exercise trainer, one project aide from public Health Center with consultation of authors; 5-days a week from June to October 2005. The study variables were Röhrer index, fat mass measured by bioelectronic impedance analyzer (GIF-891DH), self-reported summated scales (life habit, obese stress, dietary & exercise self efficacies) and Waist/Hip  ratio. The data were analyzed by Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, χ²-test, paired t-test using SPSS PC 12.0 program.

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Finding: Röhrer index was significantly decreased (t = 8.84, p = .001) and life habit (t = -6.59, p = .001) dietary(t = -5.48, p = .001) and exercise self efficacy (t = -5.69, p = .001) are changed more affirmatively in posttest. Waist/Hip ratio, on the other hand, was significantly decreased only in girl group (t = 3.38, p = .020) and fat mass and obese stress were rather increased slightly but not significant after intervention.

Conclusion: Community-based collaboration efforts for obese children is effective to decrease obese index and to change some self-reported measures affirmatively. The authors suggest further study and development of more effective program to decrease fat mass and Wait/Hip ratio for obese children.

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