Prevention of Excessive Weight Gain by Discouraging Students From Drinking Sodas

School Randomised Trial on Prevention of Excessive Weight Gain by Discouraging Students From Drinking Sodas

The purpose of this study was to encourage students to reduce soft drinks intake, substituting it by water, in order to prevent and control overweight prevalence.

During seven months of one school year, a healthy lifestyle education programme was implemented using simple messages encouraging water consumption instead of sugar sweetened carbonated beverages. The messages were previously tested for understanding in two small groups of children of the same age and socio-economic background as the study participants. Also, beliefs and behaviors of children in these focus groups were recorded in order to orient activities and the production of printed materials to be given to participants. Education was delivered via classroom activities; banners were hung promoting water consumption, and water bottles with the logo of the campaign were given to children and schoolteachers.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 4th grade morning classes

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnancy
• Physical disabilities preventing anthropometric measurement