Plain English Summary
Background and study aims
This is an initial project based on the Health Promoting Schools framework. It focussed on improvement in school policies and environment in healthy eating and active living, health skills improvement among students, parents and teachers. Training, health resources, consultancy service and professional support were provided to the participating schools and families throughout the project period, providing a supportive environment for healthy lifestyle. Families were given knowledge and skills to help with weight control in their children, and schools were encouraged to include the programme and to utilise the resources and professional support provided by the project team.
Who can participate?
106 overweight students and their parents from participating schools in Hong Kong.
What does the study involve?
57 students were randomly selected to participate in the school-based programme with the rest in the waiting list (control group). Students attended several sessions after school and over the weekends that included practical, interactive and fun activities on healthy eating and exercise. Students and parents received a meal plan and tailor-made management advice. Parents received an introductory seminar about exercises for overweight children and follow up sessions on strategies to help weight control for their children.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
In addition to helping the participating students reduce their weight, the project helped the schools to provide a supportive environment for the prevention and management of childhood obesity. There was no significant risk to participants of the study.
Where is the study run from?
This study was run from 6 local primary schools in Hong Kong.
When is study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
The study started in June 2007 and ended in November 2008.
Who is funding the study?
The study was funded by Health Care Promotion Fund of Food and Health Bureau of Hong Kong SAR Government.
Who is the main contact?
Prof Albert Lee
alee@cuhk.edu.hk
Trial website
Contact information
Type
Scientific
Primary contact
Prof Albert Lee
ORCID ID
Contact details
Centre for Health Education and Health Promotion
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
4/Floor
Lek Yuen Health Centree
Shatin
NA
Hong Kong
852 26933670
alee@cuhk.edu.hk
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
SS06838 (CUHK number); Project No.: 20060524 (Health Care Promotion Fund)
Study information
Scientific title
Childhood obesity management shifting from healthcare system to school system: school-based weight management programme
Acronym
Study hypothesis
To evaluate the effectiveness of a multi-component school-based weight management programme that aimed to help primary school children with overweight and obesity to achieve the goal of weight control via a home-school joint venture supported by healthcare professionals.
Ethics approval
This project was funded by the Health Care Promotion Fund of the Hong Kong Government Food and Health Bureau. The proposal was approved by the Committee of Health Care Promotion Fund (Project 20060524) based on quality standard of the proposal including ethical standard with membership from government, academics and non-government organisations.
Study design
Randomised controlled trial
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Other
Trial type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet
Condition
Overweight and obesity of primary care students
Intervention
57 students were randomly selected to participate in the school based programme first with 49 students as wait list control who started the programme. Students attended ten 75-minutes after-school sessions and one 3-hour weekend session of practical, interactive and fun activities on healthy eating and exercise. Students were provided a meal plan at the beginning of the programme together with parents and received printed tailor-made management advices. Parents received an introductory seminar with two sets of specially designed exercise for overweight children and further two 1-hour follow up sessions on skills about healthy eating and exercise strategies to assist weight control for their children.
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Not Applicable
Drug names
Primary outcome measures
The primary study outcomes were age- and sex-adjusted BMI (BMI z-score) and body fat percentage. Body weight (to nearest 0.1kg) and body fat percentage (to nearest 0.5%) were measured by bio-impedance body fat scale (Model: TBF-521, Tanita, Japan) with participants lightly clothed and without shoes. Standing height (to the nearest cm) was measured with a portable stadiometer (Model: 214, SECA). Outcome measures were assessed at baseline (T0) before the intervention, and completion of 4-month intervention (T1) to assess the immediate program effectiveness and after a 4-month maintenance period (8 months from baseline, T2) to evaluate the sustainability of the programme.
Secondary outcome measures
Secondary outcomes include self-reported attitude and behavioural variables.
Students completed a set of questionnaire adopted from previous studies specially designed for school children containing a total of 20 items to investigate the attitude towards healthy eating and exercise, dietary behaviour, physical activity participation, self-control, self-perception and weight management practice.
Parents completed a self-administered questionnaire on the general health condition, eating and exercise habit of their children, cooking methods used at home, frequencies of engaging in different activities (such as housework, outings and sports activities) with their children.
Overall trial start date
01/06/2007
Overall trial end date
30/11/2008
Reason abandoned
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
Overweight and obese students aged between 8 and 12 were recruited from six schools
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Child
Gender
Both
Target number of participants
A total of 106 students were enrolled the programme.
Participant exclusion criteria
Those eligible students who refused to participate
Recruitment start date
01/06/2007
Recruitment end date
30/11/2008
Locations
Countries of recruitment
Hong Kong
Trial participating centre
Centre for Health Education and Health Promotion, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Shatin
NA
Hong Kong
Sponsor information
Organisation
Food and Health Bureau (Hong Kong)
Sponsor details
Health Care Promotion Fund
Research Fund Secretariat
Research Office
9/F
Rumsey Street Multi-storey Carpark Building
2 Rumsey Street
Sheung Wan
Central
NA
Hong Kong
rfs@fhb.gov.hk
Sponsor type
Government
Website
http://www.fhb.gov.hk/grants/english/funds/funds_hcpf/funds_hcpf_abt/funds_hcpf_abt.html
Funders
Funder type
Government
Funder name
Health Care Promotion Fund of Food and Health Bureau of Hong Kong SAR Government Ref: 20060524
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Not provided at time of registration
Intention to publish date
Participant level data
Not provided at time of registration
Results - basic reporting
Publication summary
Final Report available at: http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/med/hep/research/pdf/reports/Fitness%20Report%20All.pdf