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Centre for Innovation & Consultation

Program Sekolah Sihat, Aktif, Segak (PROSAS): Obesity Prevention Module-PROSAS for Primary Schools

Dr. Noorsuzana Mohd Shariff

Dr. Nurdiana Zainol Abidin

Dr. Nurul Izzah Shari

Dr. Nurul ‘Ain Azizan

Dr. Hazwani Ahmad Yusof@Hanafi

AP Dr. Ahmad Munir Che Mohamed

Mr. Norazrin Abdul Razak

Overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health. Worldwide obesity has nearly tripled since 1975. According to World Health Organization, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents aged 5-19 has risen dramatically from just 4% in 1975 to just over 18% in 2016. And that 18% equals to over 340 million children and adolescents aged 5-19 years old worldwide. Similar trends are also seen in Malaysia. The recent Malaysia National Health and Morbidity Survey published in 2019 has showed that the prevalence of childhood obesity in Malaysia has been escalating from 11.9% in 2015 to 14.8% in 2019. Persistence childhood obesity increase risk to many health complications in adulthood such as metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Despite of all these alarming data, obesity is preventable, hence we need to come out with a solution for it.

Problem Statement

  • Since 2016, the assessment of students’ body mass index (BMI) has been made compulsory in all government schools in Malaysia as a twice-yearly assessment under the standard assessment Kecergasan Fizikal Kebangsaan (SEGAK).
  • However, there is a practice gap whereby teachers are yet to be equipped with a proper structured obesity prevention knowledge, interventional program and tools to help their overweight or obese students in school in achieving ideal body weight.

Novelty and Inventiveness

  • Hence, the 8-week Obesity Prevention Module-PROSAS was developed for the Physical Education teachers in primary schools emphasizing on three important elements in combatting obesity; physical activity, healthy diet and mental/psychological health for a successful behavioural change.
  • The uniqueness of this value-demand-driven module is that, we include guided mental health module using mindfulness technique for successful behavioural change, continuous 8-week Diari Sihat monitoring and digital Facebook learning page for knowledge transfer platform.

Applicability and Benefits

  • This invention provides a structured and high-impact method of teachers training for the purpose of empowering non-specialist physical education teachers to help obese/overweight schoolchildren in achieving ideal body weight and adopting healthy lifestyle in inclusive schools.
  • The Obesity Prevention Module-PROSAS can complement not only the SEGAK element in primary government schools in Malaysia but also benefiting to other primary educational setting in Malaysia.
  • The real-environment testing of this invention with six physical education education teachers and 20 overweight/obese students has received positive feedbacks and body weight reduction in 40% of the students.
  • The structured 8-week Obesity Prevention Module-PROSAS can be adopted into primary school setting as an extracurricular activity that can help improve children health, building the concept of healthy school and teacher empowerment through inclusive education.

Research Achievement

  • Grants type and amount: 
    • Geran Libatsama Universiti-Komuniti BJIM 2021 (RM 8100).
  • Magazine publication: 

Intellectual Property Status

Copyright-1.

Commercialization Potential And Industrial Partner

  • This invention provides a solution to physical education teachers in 7,780 primary schools to acquire evidence-based training module to help fighting child obesity in school.
  • The empowering of these teachers to teach and guide students with obesity/overweight problem may benefit over 2,741,837 schoolchildren in Malaysia.
  • We plan to expand the benefit of this invention to other teachers in the world, or at least the neighbouring countries by translating the readily commercialise (TRL-9) Obesity Prevention Module-PROSAS into other languages.
  • Pertubuhan Pencegahan Obesiti Dewasa dan Kanak-kanak Malaysia.
  • Sekolah Kebangsaan Bertam Indah, Sekolah Berprestasi Tinggi.
  • Kesatuan Guru-Guru Melayu Malaysia Barat (KGMMB) Cawangan Pulau Pinang.

Status of Invention

Technology Readiness Level 5.

Impact of Innovation

  • INDUSTRY: Create healthy-school environment and opportunity for mass production of obesity prevention module to be adopted in targeted market size.
  • SOCIETY: Increase obesity awareness and empowerment of school teachers to guide students with obesity/overweight problem in school towards Malaysia obesity-free society.
  • ACADEMIA: R&D specialized in healthy lifestyle community behavioral change intervention and talents development.
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