Background: Recently, there has been an increase in the prevalence of childhood obesity in Malaysia, raising concerns about increased cardiometabolic morbidity. MyBFF@school is a multifaceted program comprising physical activity, nutritional education, and psychological empowerment introduced to combat childhood obesity in Malaysia. The efficacy of a six-month intervention on the body composition of overweight and obese primary schoolchildren was evaluated.

Methods: This is a school-based, cluster randomized controlled trial involving selected primary schools in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and Negeri Sembilan. A total of 1,397 primary-school students aged 9-11 with a body mass index (BMI) -score (corrected for age) greater than + 1 standard deviation based on the World Health Organization 2007 Growth Reference were assigned to intervention ( ) and control ( ) groups. BMI z-score, waist circumference (WC), percentage body fat (PBF), and skeletal muscle mass (SMM) were assessed at baseline and after three and six months of the study. Analyses of all outcomes except for the baseline characteristics were conducted according to the intention-to-treat principle.

Results: After three months, there was no significant difference in the BMI z-score or PBF between the control and intervention groups, but SMM and WC were significantly higher in the intervention group versus the control group with mean difference of 0.15 kg; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.07-0.22, p < 0.001 and mean difference of 1.53 cm; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.21- 1.85, p < 0.001 for SMM and WC respectively. After six months, the intervention group demonstrated a significantly greater reduction in PBF compared to the controls (% mean difference: 0.43%, 95% CI: - 0.73 to - 0.12, p < 0.001) as well as a greater increase in SMM (mean difference: 0.28 kg, 95% CI: 0.18-0.37, p < 0.001). There was no difference in the BMI z-score or WC between the intervention and control groups at six months.

Conclusions: The multicomponent MyBFF@school intervention significantly improved body composition among obese primary schoolchildren in terms of percentage body fat and skeletal muscle mass compared to the control after six months. However, BMI z-score and waist circumference measures did not reflect the benefits of this program.

Trial Registration: Clinical trial number: NCT04155255, November 7, 2019 (Retrospective registered). National Medical Research Register: NMRR-13-439-16,563. Registered July 23, 2013. The intervention program was approved by the Medical Research and Ethics Committee (MREC), Ministry of Health Malaysia and the Educational Planning and Research Division (EPRD), Ministry of Education Malaysia. It was funded by the Ministry of Health Malaysia.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20724-1DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

mybff@school multifaceted
8
body composition
8
composition overweight
8
overweight obese
8
obese primary
8
primary schoolchildren
8
childhood obesity
8
obesity malaysia
8
bmi z-score
8
three months
8

Similar Publications

Machine learning and multi-omics in precision medicine for ME/CFS.

J Transl Med

January 2025

Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex and multifaceted disorder that defies simplistic characterisation. Traditional approaches to diagnosing and treating ME/CFS have often fallen short due to the condition's heterogeneity and the lack of validated biomarkers. The growing field of precision medicine offers a promising approach which focuses on the genetic and molecular underpinnings of individual patients.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Early-onset (EOCC) and late-onset cervical cancers (LOCC) represent two clinically distinct subtypes, each defined by unique clinical manifestations and therapeutic responses. However, their immunological profiles remain poorly explored. Herein, we analyzed single-cell transcriptomic data from 4 EOCC and 4 LOCC samples to compare their immune architectures.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Adapting to change: an analysis of midwives' job satisfaction in the post-pandemic workplace.

BMC Health Serv Res

January 2025

Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Primorska, Polje 42, 6310, Izola, Slovenia.

Background: Midwifery faces global workforce shortages exacerbated by the pandemic. Understanding job satisfaction drivers is vital for creating supportive work environments. This study explored the multifaceted nature of job satisfaction of midwives in the post-COVID era in order to understand the elements that contribute and the ones that don't to midwives' sense of fulfilment and engagement at work.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: As populations age globally, there is increasing prevalence of multiple long-term conditions, such as dementia, leading to many challenges. The burden on health and care services, economic pressures, and the necessity for innovative policies to better support older people and people with dementia becomes paramount. This review explores how clinical pharmacists working in UK primary care support older people and people with dementia.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Recently, there has been an increase in the prevalence of childhood obesity in Malaysia, raising concerns about increased cardiometabolic morbidity. MyBFF@school is a multifaceted program comprising physical activity, nutritional education, and psychological empowerment introduced to combat childhood obesity in Malaysia. The efficacy of a six-month intervention on the body composition of overweight and obese primary schoolchildren was evaluated.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!