The effectiveness of a weight-loss E-learning program for obese junior high school students

Obesity in schoolchildren is continuing to rise at an alarming rate and becomes an important public health problem worldwide. Therefore, the aims of this study were 1) to compare the differences between pre-implementing and post-implementing of weight-loss e-learning program (WEP) for obese junior high school students and 2) to understand the satisfaction and perceptions with the WEP by obese junior high school students. The design was quasi-experimental using purposive samples from one junior high school in Taipei. Participants were selected if their body mass indexes (BMI) were greater than 25 kg/m² and if they were willing to participate in this study. A fourteen-week WEP was developed to enhance the effectiveness of weight-loss for obese schoolchildren. Instruments including weight-loss knowledge questionnaire, physical indicator collection tool, and satisfaction questionnaire were used to collect data. Descriptive analyses such as mean, standard deviation, range, and percentage were used to analyze knowledge scores, physical measures such as BMI, triceps skinfold, waist to hip ratio, blood pressure, fitness levels such as cardiorespiratory endurance, strength and strength endurance, flexibility, power, and satisfaction scores. Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test was used to compare the differences between pre-WEP and post-WEP. In total, 16 obese schoolchildren participated in this study: 13 males (81.3%) and 3 females (18.8%). Mean age was 12.38 years (SD=.619), with a range from 12 to 14 years. After implementing the WEP, the knowledge scores, the physical measures, and fitness levels were all improved significantly (p