Laura Girelli, Sara Manganelli, Fabio Alivernini, Fabio Lucidi “The

psicologia
tra ricerca e territorio
30 anni di attività del dipartimento
roma, 17/18 ottobre 2013
DIPARTIMENTO DI PSICOLOGIA
DEI PROCESSI DI SVILUPPO E SOCIALIZZAZIONE
“The promotion of healthy eating and physical activity in underserved school-aged children: a self-determination theory based intervention”
Laura Girelli, Sara Manganelli, Fabio Alivernini, Fabio Lucidi
“Background: Childhood overweight and obesity in both girls and boys, is reaching epidemic
proportions over the world, Italy included. Childhood obesity has been linked to deleterious
health consequencies. There is a need to develop theory based and cost-effective interventions to promote healthy eating behaviour and physical activity with the aim to reduce obesity. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate a theory-based interventions to promote healthy eating and physical activity in underserved school-aged children. Method: An ex-post evaluation considering informations provided from 2 different stakeholder
was adopted. Parents and teachers were asked to evaluate changes in the behaviours, attitudes
and motivations to choice healthy foods and to do physical exercise in leisure time of 400 children
involved in a one year intervention, carried out at school and based on the Self-determination theory. A mixed-method approach with self reported questionnaires and phone interviews asking
qualitative and quantitative informations was implemented for the intervention evaluation. Results: Results indicates that both parents and teachers of the children in the intervention
group recognize an increase in children’s positive attitudes and motivation toward healthy eating and an increase in time spent in exercising in leisure time. Results also indicate
a decrease in the percentage of children skipping breakfast and an increase in healthy food
asssumption. Parents and teachers attributed these changes to the intervention procedures.
Conclusions: Despite several limitations in the evaluation procedure, results support the effectiveness of this self-determination theory-based intervention to promote positive attitude, motivation and behaviour both in healty eating and in physical activity’ domains.”
Laura Girelli, Sara Manganelli, Fabio Alivernini,
Fabio Lucidi