Abstract:
The purpose of this quasi experimental research was to study the effect of weight control program for diet and physical activity behaviors of school-aged children with overweight using Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory (1984) and Social Support (House, 1981) as the conceptual framework. The sample consisted 60 overweight children studying at Grade 4 from 2 elementary schools. The sample was divided into experimental and control groups with 30 in each school. The 6-week and 4-times program consisted of learning through experiences with education program, self-evaluation of nutritional status, self-monitoring of diet and physical activity behavior, reflection with the sample, development of the guideline for weight control, active experimentation with social support from friends, parents and teachers, and telephone follow-up with parents 2 times by the researcher. The control group received usual activities. Data were collected using the diet and physical activity behaviors questionnaire, and computed with Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). The findings revealed that the mean scores of diet and physical activity behavior between the experimental and control groups were not statistical significance difference at .05 level. However, after the intervention, children in the experimental group had the higher score of physical activity behavior than before the intervention (d = 3.70, SD =1.36), and the percentage of obesity children had been decreased from 46.70 to 30. It was recommended that the weight control programs should be longer than 6 weeks and should involve parents and teachers to design activities for overweight children. Parents and overweight children should have learning experience for weight control together.