Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Nutritional Counseling Program on Improving Dietary Behavior and Physical Growth among Primary School Students in Tripoli
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37375/bsj.v8i21.4052Keywords:
Dietary Behavior, Body Mass Index (BMI), Guidance Program, School StudentsAbstract
The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a guidance program in improving dietary behavior and physical growth among primary school students in Tripoli, Libya. The study adopted a quasi-experimental design with pre-test and post-test measurements, and was applied to a sample of 30 students aged between 10 and 11 years during the 2023–2024 academic year. The program lasted for six weeks, and data were collected using a questionnaire directed at parents, in addition to measuring Body Mass Index (BMI) before and after the program. The results showed a relative stability in the average BMI after the program, with a value of 17.41 ± 3.41 kg/m², along with a partial improvement in cases of obesity, where the average BMI decreased from 27.42 to 26.36 kg/m². The results also showed a statistically significant improvement at the level of significance p < 0.05 in some dietary behaviors, including adherence to breakfast, increased water consumption, and enhanced health awareness. Parents reported an improvement in their children's dietary awareness after the program, reflecting the direct cognitive and educational impact of the guidance program. The study concludes that the guidance program was effective in enhancing dietary awareness and behavior among the students, and recommends integrating dietary awareness programs into sustainable educational policies in schools.
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