Effect of Healthy Nutrition Education on the Body Mass Index (BMI) of Health Volunteers in Ilam Province

Aim: This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of healthy nutrition education on the body mass index (BMI) of health volunteers in Ilam Province, Iran. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, two cities of Ilam Province were randomly selected and their active health volunteers (n = 70) were randomly placed in two groups of experimental and control after providing written informed consent. Data were collected by using the valid (by a panel of experts) and reliable (by Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.92) questionnaire (developed by the researcher) and standard equipment and methods at two stages: before and six months after the intervention. The experimental group participated in a one-day training workshop with an emphasis on increasing the knowledge of participants in the field of obesity and its problems. Data were analyzed using SPSS19 and the statistical tests, Chi-square test and T-test. Findings: The mean of BMI in the experimental group decreased significantly by 2.4 after intervention and reached to 25.1 ± 1.8, but there was no decrease in BMI mean in the control group. In the experimental group, the relationship between age and education level and weight loss was not significant, but the relationship between weight loss and having a BMI above 25 was significant. Conclusion: Weight loss in the experimental group compared to the control group suggests the impact of the intervention of the education; however, its difference between the existed weight loss standards imply that the education for nutrition just for modifying BMI was not enough.