Effectiveness of School-based Nutritional Interventions in Reducing Childhood Obesity: A Community-based Controlled Study

Background: Childhood obesity has emerged as a major public health concern in developing nations due to sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy dietary patterns.Schools provide an ideal setting for implementing community-based nutritional interventions aimed at improving diet and physical activity behaviors in children.This study evaluated the effectiveness of a structured school-based nutritional intervention in reducing obesity among primary school children. Material and methods:A community-based controlled study was conducted among 400 children aged 6-12 years from Indian schools.Schools were randomly allocated to intervention (n = 200) and control (n = 200) groups.The 6-month intervention included weekly nutritional education, healthier school meal options, parental workshops, and promotion of daily physical activity.Anthropometric measurements and lifestyle assessments were recorded at baseline and at 6 months.Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0, with a p-value < 0.05 considered statistically significant.Results: Baseline characteristics were comparable between groups.After 6 months, the mean BMI z-score significantly decreased in the intervention group (1.24 0.45 to 1.01 0.42) compared to the control group (1.22 0.43 to 1.20 0.44, p < 0.001).The proportion of children consuming at least two servings of fruits and vegetables daily increased from 36 to 68% and 42 to 74%, respectively (p < 0.001).Daily intake of sugar-sweetened beverages declined from 51 to 28%, while children achieving 60 minutes of daily physical activity increased from 40 to 74% (p < 0.001).Sedentary screen time 2 hours/day reduced from 56 to 32% in the intervention group.Conclusion: School-based nutritional programs that combine dietary education, parental engagement, and structured physical activity can effectively reduce obesity indicators and promote healthier behaviors in children.