Study the effectiveness of the BASNEF model in educational environments by providing a written obesity control program and its effect on dimensions of general health and academic engagement of students

Background and Purpose: Student obesity and being overweight have become a pervasive problem that has seriously endangered their health.Unfortunately, none of the education programs have been able to effectively address this problem.This study aimed to evaluate and assess the effectiveness of the BASNEF model in educational environments by presenting a written obesity control program and its effect on the general health and academic engagement of elementary school students in Boukan City.Method: This research was a quasi-experimental type with an experimental and control group.All the obese and overweight male students (based on body mass index) of the elementary school of Boukan City in the academic year of 2024-2023 formed the research community, out of which 32 obese and overweight students of the sixth elementary school were selected by purposive and convenience sampling method.They were placed in two experimental and control groups (16 people in each group).Then, the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ; Goldberg & Hillier, 1979) and Academic Engagement (AEQ; Fredericks et al., 2004) were administered in two phases, pre-test and post-test, on both experimental and control groups.After the pre-test, the experimental group received the comprehensive obesity and overweight control package based on the BASNEF model, but the control group did not receive any training.However, the control group was assured that after completing the research, they would receive a summary of the intervention program.Data was analyzed using PLS3.5 and the covariance statistical method.Results: The results of data analysis showed a significant difference between the experimental and control groups in the dimensions of academic engagement (behavioral, emotional, and cognitive) and general health (physical, mental, and social) (P<0.05).This means that the dimensions of general health and academic engagement of students in the experimental group improved after the intervention.Conclusions: Based on the findings of the research, it can be concluded that the BASNEF model, by changing behavior in obese and overweight students, has improved the dimensions of general health and academic engagement.