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

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\u27s 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 (P