Effect of Educational and Fitness Interventions on Obesity and Cardiovascular Risk among Adolescents

Abstract

Adolescent obesity has become a pressing public health problem worldwide, largely because of its links to cardiovascular disease and metabolic dysfunction. Educational institutions provide an empirical framework for interventions that integrate health education with physical activity, thereby promoting healthier lifestyles and mitigating obesity-related risks among adolescents. We executed a randomized controlled trial involving 120 male students classified as obese, aged between 15 and 18 years. Participants were allocated randomly and in equal proportions to one of four distinct groups: an educational awareness initiative, a fitness training regimen, a hybrid educational and fitness program, or a designated control group. The duration of the intervention was established at 12 weeks. We conducted measurements of body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides at both the pre- and post-intervention phases. Analysis of covariance was employed to evaluate comparative outcomes among the groups. In relation to the control group, all three experimental cohorts exhibited statistically significant enhancements in both anthropometric and biochemical parameters (p ≤ 0.05). The group receiving the combined intervention consistently demonstrated superior performance across all assessed variables. Effect sizes were quantified to range from 0.14 to 0.21, reflecting moderate yet practically significant effects of the intervention. Our results indicate that the amalgamation of educational awareness and physical fitness training surpasses the efficacy of either modality in isolation concerning the reduction of obesity and cardiovascular risk factors among adolescents. School-based programs that address multiple dimensions of health behavior may serve as important preventive measures to reduce chronic disease risk in this population.