The Effect of Lifestyle Modification Program on Growth Parameters and Mood Status among Adolescent Girls Having Anemia

Abstract

Context: Anemia is a significant public health problem that persists worldwide, not only among pregnant women and young children but also among adolescent girls contributing to high maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity in the future life.
Aim: The study was conducted to assess the effect of lifestyle modification programs on growth parameters and mood status among adolescent girls with anemia.

Methods: A Quasi-experimental study design was utilized at one preparatory school and one secondary school affiliated to Shebein Elkom town-Menoufia governorate. One hundred thirty-two adolescent girls were included in this study. This study's four tools used to collect data are the socio-demographic Structured Interview questionnaire, growth parameters measurement scales, Hemoglobin level measurement scale, and Kutcher Adolescent Depression Scale (KADS).

Results: The study population was adolescent girls whose mean age was 14.10 ± 1.15 years; the main findings of this study revealed that adolescents with mild anemia pre-intervention (74.2%) fall to 5.30% and 4.50% in the post and follow up intervention, respectively. Also, adolescents with severe anemia pre-intervention (6.80%) ultimately improved because none of the participants had severe anemia in the post and follow-up intervention. Adolescents underweight pre-intervention (23.5%) have standard weight post-intervention and at follow-up test 43.9 % and 47.7 % respectively. High statistically significant differences were found between pre, post, and follow-up tests regarding adolescents' mood status, in which the number of affected adolescents has fallen from 93.2%to 34.1% at post-intervention and 32.6% at follow-up.

Conclusion: Based on the findings of the present study, it can conclude that the dietary modification program has a better effect on the improvement of anemia, mood status, and growth parameters of the studied adolescent girls. The study recommended that all adolescent girls urgently adhere to a healthy lifestyle modification regarding their dietary regimen to prevent and manage iron deficiency anemia and promote mood stability and growth and development.