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ADOS: an educational primary prevention programme for preventing excess body weight in adolescents

International Journal of Obesity volume 32, pages S72–S76 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

The prevalence of adolescent obesity has increased considerably over the past decade in Switzerland and has become a serious public health problem in Europe. Prevention of obesity using various comprehensive programmes appears to be very promising, although we must admit that several interventions had generally disappointing results compared with the objectives and target initially fixed. Holistic programmes including nutritional education combined with promotion of physical activity and behaviour modification constitute the key factors in the prevention of childhood and adolescent obesity. The purpose of this programme was to incorporate nutrition/physical education as well as psychological aspects in selected secondary schools (9th grade, 14–17 years).

Methods:

The educational strategy was based on the development of a series of 13 practical workshops covering wide areas such as physical inactivity, body composition, sugar, energy density, invisible lipids, how to read food labels, is meal duration important? Do you eat with pleasure or not? Do you eat because you are hungry? Emotional eating. For teachers continuing education, a basic highly illustrated guide was developed as a companion booklet to the workshops. These materials were first validated by biology, physical education, dietician and psychologist teachers as well as school medical officers.

Results:

Teachers considered the practical educational materials innovative and useful, motivational and easy to understand. Up to now (early 2008), the programme has been implemented in 50 classes or more from schools originating from three areas in the French part of Switzerland. Based on the 1-week pedometer value assessed before and after the 1 school-year programme, an initial evaluation indicated that overall physical placidity was significantly decreased as evidenced by a significant rise in the number of steps per day.

Conclusion:

Future evaluation will provide more information on the effectiveness of the ADOS programme.

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Acknowledgements

The development of practical guidelines and the basic teacher's guide were possible by the financial support of Suisse Balance. We are also indebted to Loterie Romande for financial support. We thank the directors of colleges and the vast number of teachers who have agreed to make rapid adaptations to their school programmes after inserting ‘ADOS’ in the basic teaching routine. We also thank Dr Souhail Latrèche, MD, for his helpful collaboration, his experience and his involvement.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. EUROBESITAS Swiss, Vevey, Switzerland

    D Durrer

  2. Department of Physiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Y Schutz

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  1. D Durrer
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  2. Y Schutz
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Correspondence to D Durrer.

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The authors have declared no financial interests.

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Durrer, D., Schutz, Y. ADOS: an educational primary prevention programme for preventing excess body weight in adolescents. Int J Obes 32 (Suppl 6), S72–S76 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2008.209

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