Improvement of body composition in 8- to 11-year-old schoolboys: effects of a 6-months lifestyle intervention A retrospective evaluation of the “EDDY-Kids” prevention study

ABSTRACT Background Childhood obesity prevention is crucial. This study aimed to assess the effect of a 6-month intervention with nutritional training and physical activity education on body fat, BMI-SDS, and consumption of sugary drinks and sweets in a sample of 69 Viennese schoolboys aged 8–11 years. Methods The “EDDY-Kids” study was a prevention project in a Viennese elementary school aiming to prevent excessive weight gain and obesity by increasing nutrition knowledge and daily physical activity. During the school year 2018/2019, 69 boys were recruited; weight, height, fat mass, and consumption of sugary drinks and sweets were examined at the beginning (December 2018) and at the end of the project (June 2019). Only the intervention group received nutrition lessons and physical activity education once and twice weekly, respectively. Results At baseline, 19/36 boys in the intervention group had overweight/obesity and 11/33 in the control group (p = 0.14). After the intervention, no significant differences in changes in BMI-SDS between the intervention and the control group were observed (p = 0.35). Body fat percentage changed from 30.5% (25.8–31.7%) to 29.4% (24.3–30.4%) in the intervention group, and from 23.3% (22.0–27.0%) to 23.7% (21.7–26.8%) in the control group (p = 0.013). At baseline, there were no differences in the consumption of sugary drinks and sweets between the intervention and the control group. After 6-months of intervention, the median consumption of sugary drinks and sweets remained similar in the intervention and the control group, and no differences between groups (p > 0.40) were found. Conclusion A 6-month combined intervention promoting healthier dietary and physical activity habits in schoolboys from Vienna positively and modestly affected the percentage of body fat. Reduced body fat may be beneficial independently of changes in BMI-SDS.