A School-Based Intervention for Diabetes Risk Reduction

In a three-year study published online by The New England Journal of Medicine, researchers examined how health intervention programs in schools might address risk factors for diabetes in children.

Health intervention programs were characterized by longer gym classes, more nutritious food choices and classes that incorporated health and nutrition awareness. Researchers followed 4,600 students from 42 middle schools across the country. Half of these students attended schools that had health intervention programs and half of the students attended schools without these programs. Obese or overweight students at the schools where health programs were implemented were 21 percent less likely to be obese at the end of the study, compared to obese and overweight students at the other schools.

At all of the schools, the number of overweight and obese students decreased 4 percent. Researchers said this may be because people became more aware and concerned about obesity during the study period. They also speculated that teachers from different schools may have exchanged information about their different programs.
 

Read the report.