Promoting Physical Activity and Nutrition Through Health Education: Insights from a Study on Middle Eastern Adolescents in Malaysia.

Background: This study aims to determine the effects of an intervention programme on knowledge, attitude, and practice of nutrition and physical activity, and physical activity level among Middle Eastern adolescent students in Arabic schools in Malaysia. Methods: A cluster randomised controlled trial was conducted among early adolescence, aged 13 and 14 years from February 2022 to September 2023. The study involved 250 participants, with 125 in the intervention group (IG) and 125 in the control group (CG). The IG underwent a "Healthy Lifestyle" educational programme, while the CG was not exposed to the programme. Knowledge, attitude, practice and physical activity level were assessed using questionnaires. Results: The study began with 250 participants divided into two groups. Dropouts occurred, resulting in 116 IG and 119 CG participants pre-intervention, 113 IG and 115 CG post-intervention, and 111 IG and 112 CG at follow-up. A significant intervention effect was found in improved knowledge, attitude, practice and physical activity level of the IG post-intervention and at the three-month follow-up compared to pre-intervention (P < 0.001). Specifically, the mean scores for knowledge, attitude, and practice of IG have significantly changed from the pre-intervention to follow-up, with mean differences of -13.03, -15.62, and -10.90, respectively, while physical activity levels changed from the pre-intervention to follow-up, with mean differences of -0.33 in the IG. Conclusion: The educational programme could increase awareness of nutrition, physical activity, and healthy behaviour among Middle Eastern adolescents, thereby potentially reducing obesity and non-communicable diseases among school students in the future.