Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Healthy Nutrition and Obesity Awareness Education for Middle School Students Using Drama-Based Learning Activities

Year 2024, , 135 - 143, 30.08.2024

Rukayye Eryiğit , Fatma Dinç , Murat Etiğ , Melike Kılıç , Sude Naz Özer

https://doi.org/10.25048/tudod.1440579

Abstract

Aim: The prevalence of childhood obesity is rapidly increasing, making it one of the most common nutritional problems globally. This study aimed to investigate the impact of education using the creative drama technique on obesity awareness and healthy nutrition-exercise behavior among middle school students.
Material and Methods: This single-group pre-test-post-test quasi-experimental study was conducted in a state middle school in a Western Black Sea Region province between October 2023 and January 2024, involving 156 middle school students selected through random sampling. A six-session face-to-face education program on obesity prevention and healthy nutrition was implemented. Data collection forms included a Demographic Information Form, an Obesity Awareness Scale, and a Nutrition-Exercise Behavior Scale. Data collection forms were administered to students before (t1) and one month after the education (t2).
Results: The mean age of the participating students was 12.33±0.92. Only 3.8% of students had previously received education on combating obesity through healthy nutrition. There was a significant increase in students’ obesity awareness (t1=2.99±0.17, t2=3.54±0.20) and nutrition-exercise behavior scores (t1=153.76±13.07, t2=165.1±11.57) after the education.
Conclusion: Interactive and participatory learning through the creative drama technique effectively increased students’ obesity awareness and promoted healthy nutrition-exercise behaviors. Education focusing on hands-on experiences and active engagement was found to be successful in enhancing students’ awareness of obesity and encouraging healthier lifestyle choices.

Keywords

Child, Creative drama, Health education, Obesity awareness, Nutrition

Project Number

This work was supported by the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) 2209-A University Students Research Projects Support Program [Grant number: 1919B012224405].

Drama Temelli Öğrenme Etkinlikleri Kullanılarak Ortaokul Öğrencilerine Yönelik Sağlıklı Beslenme ve Obezite Farkındalığı Eğitiminin Etkinliğinin Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Amaç: Çocukluk çağı obezitesi prevalansı hızla artmakta, dünyada ele alınması gereken en yaygın beslenme sorunlarından birisi haline gelmiştir Bu çalışmanın amacı ortaokul öğrencilerine yönelik yaratıcı drama tekniği ile verilen eğitimin obezite farkındalığına, sağlıklı beslenme-egzersiz davranışına etkisini incelemekti.
Gereç ve Yöntemler: Bu çalışma tek gruplu ön test-son test yarı deneysel olarak yapılmıştır. Çalışma Batı Karadeniz Bölgesi’ndeki bir ilde kura yöntemi ile belirlenen bir devlet ortaokulunda Ekim 2023-Ocak 2024 tarihleri arasında 156 ortaokul öğrencisiyle gerçekleştirilmiştir. Öğrencilere obeziteden korunma-sağlıklı beslenmeye yönelik eğitim programı, altı oturum şeklinde yüz yüze uygulanmıştır. Veri toplama formları olarak Tanıtıcı Bilgi Formu, Obezite Farkındalık Ölçeği ve Beslenme-Egzersiz Davranışları Ölçeği kullanılmıştır. Öğrencilere veri toplama formları eğitimden önce (t1) ve eğitimden bir ay sonra (t2) uygulanmıştır.
Bulgular: Çalışmaya katılan öğrencilerin yaş ortalaması 12,33±0,92’dir. Daha önceden obeziteyle mücadele hakkında sağlıklı beslenme eğitimini öğrencilerin %3,8’i almıştır. Öğrencilerin obezite farkındalıkları (t1=2,99±0,17, t2=3,54±0,20), beslenme-egzersiz davranışları (t1=153,76±13,07, t2=165,1±11,57) toplam puan ortalamalarında eğitim sonrasında anlamlı artış görülmüştür.
Sonuç: Öğrencilerin interaktif katılımlı, yaparak-yaşarak öğrenme sağladıkları, sağlıklı beslenme ve obeziteye yönelik farkındalık eğitimi, öğrencilerin obezite farkındalıklarını, sağlıklı beslenme-egzersiz davranışlarını arttırmada etkiliydi.

Keywords

Çocuk, Yaratıcı drama, Sağlık eğitimi, Obezite farkındalığı, Beslenme

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval was obtained from the Non-Interventional Research Ethics Committee of a University (Decision date: 29.03.2023, Decision no: 07), and institutional permission was obtained from the Provincial Directorate of National Education.

Supporting Institution

This work was supported by the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) 2209-A University Students Research Projects Support Program [Grant number: 1919B012224405].

Project Number

This work was supported by the Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) 2209-A University Students Research Projects Support Program [Grant number: 1919B012224405].

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