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Nutritional counseling on modifying lifestyle practices of obese children

Samundeeswari Arunachalam, Maheswari K

Worldwide prevalence of childhood obesity dramatically increases every year. To combat this obesity, parents play a key role. The present study focuses the effectiveness of nutritional counselling to prevent childhood obesity by assessing the lifestyle practices of obese children. Experimental research design with stratified random sampling method 150 obese school children (age group of 6-12 years) parents were called for interview to assess the lifestyle practices of their children. Nutritional counselling was given to the parents in 3 sittings and at the end of 6th month post assessment done. Statistical significance calculated by using one-way analysis of variance and student independent t-test. The study finding reveals more number of obese children in the age group of 6.1-8 years (39.19%). Their birth order two (56.66%) and two child family norm (71.67%). The obese children mother’s education was mostly higher secondary standard (42.50%) and was homemaker (78.33%). All obese children consuming non-vegetarian food and their frequency of intake is thrice a week (40%). The life style practices of obese during pre-test were poor (53.33%) and after nutritional counselling 65.83% of them scored good practice and 34.17% of them scored moderate practice. Nutrition counselling was very effective to parents of obese children who help them to adapt the healthy lifestyle practices preventing the obesity among children and prevent the increasing risk of obesity and chronic diseases in adult.