64. Effectiveness of a health promotion program on overweight in vulnerable children from primary schools (BeE-school): A cluster-randomized controlled trial: Pediatrics

Martins, J., Augusto, C., Silva, M. J., Duarte, A., Martins, S. P., Antunes, H., Novais, P., Pereira, B., Veiga, P., & Rosário, R. (2025). Effectiveness of a health promotion program on overweight in vulnerable children from primary schools (BeE-school): A cluster-randomized controlled trial: Pediatrics. International Journal of Obesity, 49(2), 332–339. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-024-01672-7This paper evaluates the effectiveness of a school-based health promotion program (BeE-school) aimed at reducing overweight in socially vulnerable children in Northern Portugal. Conducted as a cluster-randomized controlled trial, it included 735 primary school children (mean age 7.7 years) from 10 schools located in disadvantaged areas. The 16-week intervention focused on teacher training, classroom implementation, and family engagement through biweekly challenges inspired by the Fogg behavior model. Results showed significant short-term reductions in BMI z-scores, waist-to-height ratio, and waist-to-weight ratio among children in the intervention group compared to controls, with stronger effects in those initially overweight. One year later, the reduction in BMIz remained significant, though other measures lost statistical significance. The study concludes that schools and teachers play a crucial role in promoting healthy habits and preventing obesity in vulnerable populations. It is the first Portuguese trial to demonstrate BMIz reduction through a school-based intervention.