Carla Habib-Mourad|Lilian Ghandour|Helen Moore|Maya Nabhani-Zeidan|Kassim Adetayo|Nahla Hwalla|Carolyn Summerbell
Promoting healthy eating and physical activity among school children: findings from Health-E-PALS, the first pilot intervention from Lebanon
American University of Beirut|American University of Beirut|University Hospital of North Tees|Durham University|American University of Beirut|University Hospital of North Tees|Durham University|American University of Beirut|University Hospital of North Tees|Durham University
lebanon childhood obesity doubled past decade preventive measures start early life schools considered important environment promote energy balance health behaviours schoolbased programmes promoting healthy lifestyles lacking purpose study evaluate feasibility effectiveness multicomponent schoolbased intervention promote healthy eating physical activity prevent obesity school children aged 911 years lebanon intervention developed based constructs social cognitive theory adapted culture lebanese arab populations consisted three components class curriculum family involvement food service eight schools purposively selected two communities different socioeconomic status ses beirut within school type matched ses religious sect profile randomly assigned either intervention control group anthropometric measurements questionnaires determinants behavioural change eating physical activity habits completed students groups baseline post intervention focus group interviews conducted intervention schools end study challenges encountered programme implementation also identified since lebanon considered country political unrest similar research projects conducted area students intervention group reported purchasing consuming less chips sweetened drinks postintervention compared controls 86 88 less respectively p 0001 knowledge selfefficacy scores increased intervention 28 17 points respectively p 0001 control group difference physical activity screen time habits changes bmi groups post intervention interview data focus groups showed programme generally well accepted limitations better outcomes include length programme school environment healthepals intervention promising innovative theorybased culturally sensitive intervention promote healthy eating habits physical activity lebanese school children potential scaled replicated sustained