Effectiveness evaluation of intensive lifestyle intervention on rural residents with metabolic syndrome / 预防医学

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of intensive lifestyle intervention on rural residents with metabolic syndrome (MS) . Methods A total of 253 patients with MS selected from cross-sectional survey were divided into intensive lifestyle intervention and conventional management group incomplete randomly. Aimed to control weight, patients in the intervention group were treated with dietary control and exercise guidance. Besides, their compliances were assessed. In conventional management group, patients were disposed according to chronic disease management specification. Anthropometric measurements and biochemical markers detection were carried out in both groups at baseline and at the end of 6 months. Results These main anthropometric measurements and biochemical markers have no significant difference between the intervention group and conventional management group at the baseline (P>0.05) . After 6 months intensive lifestyle modification, the prevalence of MS did not significantly differ between the two groups: it was 67.14% in the intervention group and 60.95% in the conventional management group (P>0.05) .In the intervention group, the body weight, BMI and the waist circumference were decreased by 3.11 kg, 1.50 kg/m2, 4.29 cm, respectively, and 1.23 kg, 0.47 kg/m2, 1.22 cm in the conventional management group. The changes were significantly larger in the intervention group than in the conventional management group (P<0.01) .Uric acid, triglyceride were decreased by 14.30 μmol/L, 0.01 mmol/L, respectively, in the intervention group and in the conventional management group they were increased by 18.17 μmol/L and 0.41 mmol/L conversely. While the high density lipoprotein cholesterol was increased by 0.02 mmol/L, it was decreased by 0.10 mmol/L in the conventional management group (P<0.01) . Body weight and BMI decreased by 3.93kg and 1.40 kg/m2 in the high compliance group, compared to low compliance group, there was statistically difference with regard to this change between the two groups (P<0.05) . While the body fat% was decreased by 2.27%, and it was increased by 1.01% in the conventional management group (P<0.05) . Conclusion For rural residents, the beneficial effects of intensive lifestyle intervention are improving metabolic risk factors. The compliance is the main factor of the effects of intervention.

Health-promoting school development in Zhejiang Province, China.

In 2003, after three pilot projects successfully implemented WHO's Health-Promoting Schools (HPS) concept, officials in Zhejiang Province, China, expanded to additional 51 schools (93,000 students and their families and 6800 school personnel). Each school identified a health issue to begin HPS development, followed by conceptual orientation, resource mobilization, teacher training, surveys, interventions, outreach and evaluation. This study focused on the extent to which participating schools implemented the HPS concept and improved their psycho-social environments (PSEs). Forty-nine of the 51 schools met China's HPS criteria. Schools with fewer resources and with substantial resources, i.e. schools in both rural and urban areas, met the criteria. Schools' PSEs, as measured by the PSE Profile, improved as they became HPS. Findings from interviews and observations identified strong encouragement and support from officials, school personnel, students, parents and community leaders, and consistency of HPS with the national policy on quality education, as success factors.

Creating health-promoting schools in China with a focus on nutrition.

This pilot project in Zhejiang Province, China, aimed at improving the nutrition and health status of students, school personnel and parents, and developing a model project for nutrition interventions for the development of health-promoting schools (HPS) in China. Three primary and three secondary schools participated. Interventions included establishing school-based working groups, nutrition training for school staff, distribution of materials on nutrition, nutrition education for students, student competitions, school-wide health promotion efforts and outreach to families and communities. Results of a pre- and post-intervention survey one and a half years apart showed improvements in nutrition knowledge, attitudes and behavior among all target groups. Primary school students at the pilot schools made the greatest knowledge gains in the areas of Chinese dietary guidelines (increased from 49.2 to 78.0%, p < 0.01) and adequate dietary principles (increased from 42.9 to 68.0%, p < 0.01). Scores of secondary school students who reported liking school lunches rose at pilot schools from 17.9 to 45.2% (p < 0.01). School staff at control schools who reported taking breakfast declined from 81.4 to 66.6% (p < 0.01), while staff who reported taking lunch at school increased in pilot schools from 87.5% at baseline to 93.9% (p < 0.01). The largest increases in nutrition knowledge among all target groups occurred among parents and guardians. At the pilot schools parents increased their knowledge in the areas of nutritional deficiencies (from 35.0 to 66.2%, p < 0.01) and nutrient-rich foods (from 38.8 to 66.8%, p < 0.01). Talks with target groups confirmed changes in attitudes and behavior, and school visits revealed improvements to school facilities and school health services, establishing of school policies and a positive school climate. This study suggests that nutrition can effectively serve as an entry point to establish HPS in China and that the HPS concept is feasible to improve the dietary knowledge, attitudes and behavior of students, parents and school personnel.