Childhood overweight and obesity in both girls and boys is reaching epidemic proportions over the world, Italy included. Childhood obesity has been linked to deleterious health consequences. There is a need to develop theory based and cost-effective interventions to promote healthy eating and physical activity with the aim to reduce obesity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a long-term theory-based intervention to promote healthy lifestyles in underserved school-aged children. A quasi experimental design was adopted, in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention, considering information from their parents. Parents were asked to rate their children attitude, motivation and behavior regarding two energy balance-related behaviors. Results indicate that pupils involved in the intervention were more likely to do physical activity in leisure time and have more positive attitudes toward exercise compared to the control group. About eating habits, children involved in the intervention were more likely to choose healthy foods and less likely to choose fat foods compare to the control group. Changes in attitude and motivation between the baseline and the follow up and the two groups are also shown, even if not significant. Despite several limitations in the design, this study provided further support to the argument that Self-determination theory-based interventions could result in meaningful health-behavior changes

A Self-determination theory based intervention to promote healthy eating and physical activity in school-aged children / Girelli, Laura; Manganelli, S.; Alivernini, F.; Lucidi, Fabio. - In: CUADERNOS DE PSICOLOGÍA DEL DEPORTE. - ISSN 1578-8423. - STAMPA. - 16:3(2016), pp. 13-20.

A Self-determination theory based intervention to promote healthy eating and physical activity in school-aged children

GIRELLI, LAURA;Manganelli, S.;LUCIDI, Fabio
2016

Abstract

Childhood overweight and obesity in both girls and boys is reaching epidemic proportions over the world, Italy included. Childhood obesity has been linked to deleterious health consequences. There is a need to develop theory based and cost-effective interventions to promote healthy eating and physical activity with the aim to reduce obesity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a long-term theory-based intervention to promote healthy lifestyles in underserved school-aged children. A quasi experimental design was adopted, in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention, considering information from their parents. Parents were asked to rate their children attitude, motivation and behavior regarding two energy balance-related behaviors. Results indicate that pupils involved in the intervention were more likely to do physical activity in leisure time and have more positive attitudes toward exercise compared to the control group. About eating habits, children involved in the intervention were more likely to choose healthy foods and less likely to choose fat foods compare to the control group. Changes in attitude and motivation between the baseline and the follow up and the two groups are also shown, even if not significant. Despite several limitations in the design, this study provided further support to the argument that Self-determination theory-based interventions could result in meaningful health-behavior changes
2016
Self-determination theory; intervention; healthy eating; physical activity; primary school children;
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01a Articolo in rivista
A Self-determination theory based intervention to promote healthy eating and physical activity in school-aged children / Girelli, Laura; Manganelli, S.; Alivernini, F.; Lucidi, Fabio. - In: CUADERNOS DE PSICOLOGÍA DEL DEPORTE. - ISSN 1578-8423. - STAMPA. - 16:3(2016), pp. 13-20.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/955709
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