Promoting Healthy Eating Habits and Physical Activity among School-aged Children in Kuwait – “My Healthy Habits" Summer Camp

Authors

Ghanima AlabdullahFollow

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Major/Program

Dietetics and Nutrition

First Advisor's Name

Fatma Huffman

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee chair

Second Advisor's Name

Florence George

Second Advisor's Committee Title

committee member

Third Advisor's Name

Adriana Campa

Third Advisor's Committee Title

committee member

Fourth Advisor's Name

Catherine Coccia

Fourth Advisor's Committee Title

committee member

Fifth Advisor's Name

Lemia Shaban

Fifth Advisor's Committee Title

Committee member

Keywords

childhood obesity, nutrition education, physical activity, summer camp, childhood obesity prevention

Date of Defense

3-30-2018

Abstract

The effectiveness of an eight-week nutrition and physical activity intervention at a summer camp to prevent obesity, and promote healthy eating habits and physical activity among children in Kuwait was studied. Two summer camps were recruited for intervention and comparison groups. Convenient sampling was used (N= 79). Pre-test/post-test assessment were used for the participants in the intervention and comparison groups. Modified Healthy Habits Survey (HHS) was used to measure children’s knowledge, behavior and attitude about nutrition, screen time and physical activities, BMI-for age percentile were collected. Statistical analysis included independent t-test, paired t-test, chi-squared test, McNemar's test, and multiple regression. Results indicated that there was a significant increase in nutrition knowledge score (Pp= 0.013, p = 0.007, p = 0.002, and p = 0.012, respectively). There was no significant decrease in the number of servings of unhealthy foods for french-fries and chips, fruit flavored drinks or soft drinks. The only significant decrease in the unhealthy food intake was seen in the number of servings of sweets and candies. Thirty-three-point-three percent of participants in the intervention group decreased their consumption of sweets and candies to 1 time or less per day (P=0.001). There was a significant increase in the intervention group in both physical activity and screen time knowledge (Pp

Identifier

FIDC006544

ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4418-289X

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Alabdullah, Ghanima, "Promoting Healthy Eating Habits and Physical Activity among School-aged Children in Kuwait – “My Healthy Habits" Summer Camp" (2018). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3704.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/3704