Can schools help prevent childhood obesity?

Can schools help prevent childhood obesity?
A study published in The BMJ tests the effectiveness of a school and family based healthy lifestyle intervention (WAVES) in preventing childhood obesity.
 
Almost 1,500 students, aged five- and six-years-old, from 54 primary schools in the West Midlands took part in a randomized controlled trial of the WAVES program. The twelve-month intervention encouraged healthy eating and physical activity, and included an additional 30 minutes of daily physical activity at school and a six-week program with a local premiership football club.
 
Children's measurements - including weight, height, percentage body fat, waist circumference, skinfold thickness, and blood pressure - were taken when they started the trial. These measurements were taken again 15 months and 30 months later and were compared with children in a control group.
 
At the first follow-up at 15 months, the mean body mass index (BMI) score was not significantly lower for the intervention group compared with the control group. At 30 months, the mean difference was smaller and remained non-significant. The results suggest that schools alone may not be effective in preventing childhood obesity.

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