An Evaluation of a Weight-Loss Program Incorporating E-Learning for Obese Junior High School Students
Resource
TELEMEDICINE JOURNAL AND E-HEALTH v.14 n.8 pp.783-792
Journal
Telemedicine Journal and e-Health
Pages
783-792
Date Issued
2008
Date
2008
Author(s)
Hung, Sheng-Hui
Hwang, Shiow-Li
Su, Mei-Ju
Lue, Shih-Ho
Hsu, Chien-Yeh
Chen, Hsiao-Lien
Chen, Heng-Shuen
Abstract
Obesity in adolescents is continuing to rise at an alarming rate and is becoming an important public health problem in Taiwan. Therefore, the aims of this study were (1) to evaluate the effectiveness of a Weight-loss E- learning Program (WEP) on obese Chinese adolescents and (2) to gauge this group's satisfaction with the WEP. The design was quasi -experimental, using purposive samples from two junior high schools in Taipei, Taiwan. Obese adolescents between 12 and 14 years of age with body mass indexes ( BMI) over 25 kg/m(2) were recruited. A 14-week WEP was developed to expedite weight loss for the selected adolescents. Data such as BMI, waist -to-hip ratio, waist circumference, hip circumference, mid-arm circumference, triceps skinfold, blood pressure, and physical fitness were collected through standardized instruments and methods before and after the WEP. The satisfaction of the subjects and four psychosocial variables were evaluated and taken into account by authoritative scales and questionnaires. In total, 37 adolescents participated in this study. After the WEP, we found significant decreases in BMI (p<0.05), waist circumference ( p<0.05), and triceps skinfold (p<0.001)in the sample population. Improvements were found in three of four tests of physical fitness (p<0.001, p<0.05, and p<0.01, respectively). All psychosocial variables showed significant favorable changes (p<0.01 for self-esteem scores, p<0.001 for the other three variables) and satisfaction levels for the WEP ranged from 56.6% to 83.8% in four different criteria. The WEP was effective in helping obese Chinese adolescents lose weight. However, there is still room for improvement.
Subjects
Weight-loss program
obese Chinese adolescents
body mass index
WEP
SDGs
Other Subjects
Blood pressure; E-learning; Internet; Multimedia systems; Personnel; Population statistics; Before and after; Body mass index; Body masses; Chinese; E - learnings; Junior high schools; Obese Chinese adolescents; Physical fitnesses; Psychosocial variables; Public healths; Sample populations; Weight losses; Weight-loss program; Weightloss; WEP; Health; adolescent; arm circumference; article; blood pressure monitoring; body mass; Chinese; clinical article; controlled study; evaluation; female; fitness; health program; high school student; human; learning style; male; obesity; patient satisfaction; priority journal; purposive sample; quasi experimental study; questionnaire; school child; self esteem; skinfold thickness; Taiwan; triceps brachii muscle; waist circumference; waist hip ratio; weight reduction; Adolescent; Behavior Therapy; Body Composition; Body Mass Index; Child; Combined Modality Therapy; Diet, Reducing; Female; Humans; Internet; Life Style; Male; Obesity; Patient Compliance; Probability; Program Evaluation; Sampling Studies; Self Concept; Sensitivity and Specificity; Taiwan; Therapy, Computer-Assisted; Weight Loss