The effect of the MyBFF@school program on cardiorespiratory fitness in overweight and obese primary schoolchildren: a cluster randomized controlled trial

Mokhtar, Abdul Halim and Kamarudin, Muhammad Ashaari and Choong, Alston and Singh, Lakvinder and Genisan, Vinotha and Yahya, Abqariyah and Zin, Ruziana Mona Wan Mohd and Zain, Fuziah Md. and Selamat, Rusidah and Ishak, Zahari and Jalaludin, Muhammad Yazid (2025) The effect of the MyBFF@school program on cardiorespiratory fitness in overweight and obese primary schoolchildren: a cluster randomized controlled trial. BMC Public Health, 24 (SUPPL1). p. 3623. ISSN 1471-2458, DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20723-2.

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Official URL: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20723-2

Abstract

BackgroundMyBFF@school program consisting physical activity in the formed small-sided games (SSG), nutrition and psychology education was designed to combat obesity among schoolchildren in Malaysia. It was expected to improve cardiorespiratory fitness, hence, contributing to obesity treatment and prevention. Thus, we aimed to study the effects of the MyBFF@school program on the cardiorespiratory fitness of overweight and obese primary schoolchildren.MethodsTwenty-three out of 1196 government primary schools in central Peninsular Malaysia participated in this cluster-randomized control study. Schoolchildren aged 9-11 years with a body mass index (BMI) z-score greater than + 1 SD (WHO) were eligible for the study. The intervention group participated in the MyBFF@school program while the control followed the existing standard curriculum. The primary outcome was cardiorespiratory fitness using physical fitness score (PFS) measured by the modified Harvard step test. Data were collected at baseline, month-3 and month-6 and were analyzed according to the intention-to-treat principle using mixed linear models.ResultsA total of 954 schoolchildren completed six months follow up, with 439 (n = 439) in the intervention group (n = seven schools), while 515 (n = 515) in the control group (n = 16 schools). In the first three months, there was significant within-group PFS improvement in overall (both), girls (both) and obese (control). Comparing between-groups, the mean differences favored the control in most parameters, but were not significant: overall (-0.15(-0.75, 0.45), p = 0.83), boys (-0.07(-0.98, 0.83), p = 0.83), girls (-0.27(-1.27, 0.73), p = 0.81), overweight (-0.16(-1.28, 0.94), p = 0.97), obese (-0.05(-1.03, 0.92), p = 0.93), morbidly obese (-0.68(-2.43, 1.05), p = 0.26), urban (0.07(-0.79, 0.94), p = 0.45), and rural (-0.35(-1.34, 0.62), p = 0.30). At month-six, the within-group improvements maintained. However, the mean differences now favored the intervention group although they remained not significant: overall (0.05(-0.98, 1.07), p = 0.69), boys (0.06(-1.35, 1.46), p = 0.86), girls (0.10(-1.31, 1.51), p = 0.74), overweight (0.15(-1.07, 1.36), p = 0.93), obese (0.28(-0.98, 1.55), p = 0.75), morbidly obese (-0.79(-2.74, 1.15), p = 0.47), urban (0.61(-0.56, 1.77), p = 0.47), and rural (-0.69(-2.52, 1.14), p = 0.17).ConclusionsMyBFF@school program showed positive trend in cardiorespiratory fitness changes especially after six months. MyBFF@school intervention program has the potential to combat obesity in primary schoolchildren and should be at least six months.Trial registrationClinical trial number: NCT04155255, November 7, 2019 (Retrospective registered). National Medical Research Register: NMRR-13-439-16563. Registered July 23, 2013. The intervention program was approved by the Medical Research and Ethics Committee (MREC), Ministry of Health, Malaysia and, the Educational Planning and Research Division (EPRD), Ministry of Education, Malaysia. It was funded by the Ministry of Health, Malaysia.

Item Type: Article
Funders: Kementerian Kesihatan (MY), Ministry of Education, Tahir Bin Aris as the coordinator of MyBFF@school project
Uncontrolled Keywords: Primary School Children; Overweight; Obesity; Intervention; Physical fitness
Subjects: R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine
Divisions: Faculty of Medicine > Paediatrics Department
Faculty of Medicine > Social & Preventive Medicine
Faculty of Medicine > Sport Medicine Department
Faculty of Sports and Exercise Science (formerly known as Centre for Sports & Exercise Sciences)
Depositing User: Ms. Juhaida Abd Rahim
Date Deposited: 14 Mar 2025 00:40
Last Modified: 14 Mar 2025 01:14
URI: http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/47728

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