Health perceptions, behaviours and overweight/obesity status of Turks and Caicos elementary school children: a collaborative model to address nutrition and healthy lifestyles in the TCI school curriculum

OBJECTIVE: To examine health perceptions, behaviours and overweight/obesity status of Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) elementary school children. DESIGN AND METHODS: Baseline/pre-intervention data on knowledge, attitudes, practices, and behaviours were collected via questionnaire and anthropometry to assess the impact of infusing healthy lifestyle practices into the curriculum of Grades 3 u 6 (3 experimental and 3 controls). RESULTS: Assessments were conducted on 585 children (247 boys and 304 girls), mean (± SD) age 10.18± 1.17 yrs, with boys slightly older (p = 0.06) and after-school physical activities 3.01 ± 2.31 activities. Most were born in TCI (324 [55.4%]) while 236 (40.3%) mothers were born in Haiti; 271 (48.6%) were overweight (21.7%) or obese (26.9%); significantly more girls were overweight/ obese (60% vs. 40%; p = 0.026) Few consumed fruits (35.8%) and vegetables (45.7%) ≥ 2/day while most consumed soda (75.9%) and fast food (89.7%) ≥1/day. Logistic regression revealed consumers of ≤ 2 fruits/servings were 68% more likely to be overweight/obese (OR = 1.68). A unit increase in self-efficacy was associated with significant increases of 11% in physical activities (p