Does a School-Based Lifestyle Intervention Program Impact Food Intake, Physical Activity, and Nutrition Knowledge of Adolescents: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are on the rise worldwide and in developing countries like Botswana. Unhealthy eating habits and lack of proper nutrition knowledge cause non-communicable diseases and affect adolescents. It is in adolescence that eating habits are formed that persist till adulthood. Lifestyle interventions are needed to curb NCDs in adolescents. This paper reports the findings of a study that aimed to validate a lifestyle intervention program and its effect on food intake, physical activity, and nutrition knowledge. It was a clustered randomized control trial study conducted in four (4) junior secondary schools. There were 46 participants, 21 in the control and 25 in the intervention arm, who were blindly assigned to each arm by a statistician. Information and skills on nutrition were imparted using the Information, Motivation, and Behavioral Skills model. The program was implemented for eight (8) weeks hourly after school. A questionnaire was used to collect data pre- and post-intervention. Number, proportion, percentage, and independent t-test (mean and SD or median and IQR, p-value) were calculated using numerical and categorical data. The findings showed that the lifestyle intervention was valid, and there was a slight decrease in the intake of sweets among participants in both trial arms (p = 0.066). There was no significant difference in terms of food intake. Only a small number of participants still ate a few fruits, and there was no change in vegetable intake in both trial arms (p = 0.641). There was no change in the intake of fried foods in both trail arms (p = 0.402). Regarding nutrition knowledge, there was a slight significant difference of p = 0.079 between the trial arms. Though the effect of the lifestyle intervention program was not statistically significant, the results are promising, especially if the duration could be increased to a longer period and a larger sample size included.