A controlled trial of "friend-helping-friend" activities on promotion of
healthy eating behaviors of grades 7-9 schoolchildren
Surajate Assawaphadungsit, D. of Pediatrics, F. of Medicine, PSU.
Ladda Mo-suwan, Assoc. Prof., D. of Pediatrics, F. of Medicine, PSU.
Weerapatn Ngoathamatasn, Division of Preventive Medicine, Hat Yai Hospital, Hat Yai, Songkhla
Areeruk Puetpaiboon, Scientist, D. of Pediatrics, F. of Medicine, PSU.
Cha-on Junjana, Nutritionist, D. of Pediatrics, F. of Medicine, PSU.
Jiraporn Chompikul, Asst. Prof., D. of Mathematics, F. of Sci., PSU.
Grant : RTG-WHO and Faculty of Medicine, PSU.
Presented : The 16th Annual Academic Meeting, Faculty of Medicine, PSU, Hat Yai, Songkhla,
16-18 August 2000
Key words : friend-helping-friend, healthy eating behaviors, schoolchildren
Background : Obesity is an emerging health problem of urban children. Promotion of healthy eating behaviors is one of the recommended strategies to prevent overweight and obesity in school-
aged children.
B>Objective : To study the effect of "friend-helping-friend" activities on promotion of healthy eating behaviors of grades 7-9 schoolchildren.
Design : Stratified randomized by class, controlled trial study.
Setting : Sangthongvittaya school, Hat Yai, Songkhla from July 1, 1998 to March, 30 1999.
Subjects : Five hundred and fifty six grades 7-9 schoolchildren aged 12-16 years old .
Methods : Half of the classes of each grade were randomly allocated to either intervention group or control group. Pre and post intervention demographic data and eating behaviors were collected by questionaires. Seventy three student volunteers were recruited and trained on healthy eating behaviors. The volunteers were assigned to supervise four friends on how to eat healthily. Meeting with reseachers was scheduled once a month for 6 months to check volunteer performances.
Results : There were 276 students in control group and 280 students in intervention group,
mean age was 13.6 (11.4-15.9) years. The baseline characteristics of both groups including eating behavior scores were not different. At the end of 6 months, there was no significant difference in the mean change of eating behavior scores between control and intervention group (0.20 vs 0.44, p=0.738). However, categorization of subjects by volunteer performances exhibited a significantly higher eating behavior scores of those under the good performance volunteers (p=0.022).
Conclusion : "Friend-helping-friend" activities can be effectively used for promotion of healthy eating behavior in grades 7-9 schoolchildren.
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