Table 3

Outcome measurements for the DECIDE-Children study

OutcomesTimeDevice (Manufacturer, model)Method
Baseline4 months after baseline9 months after baseline21 months after baseline
Anthropometric measures
 Height√√√√Stadiometer
(Huateng GMCS-1)		Measured to the nearest 0.1 cm at least twice
 Weight√√√√Lever scale
(Wujin RGT-140)		Measured to the nearest 0.1 kg at least twice
 Waist circumference√√√√Tape
(MyoTape)		Measured to the nearest 0.1 cm at least twice
 Hip circumference√√√√Tape
(MyoTape)		Measured to the nearest 0.1 cm at least twice
 Systolic and diastolic blood pressures√√√√Electronic sphygmomanometer
(Omron HBP-1300)		Measured to the nearest 1 mm Hg at least twice
 Body fat percentage√ √ Body component instrument
(Tanita MC-780 MA)		According to the standard procedure
Physical fitness measures
 One-minute rope jumping√ √ Physical fitness measures will be assessed by trained outcome assessors according to the standard procedure.
 One-minute sit-up√ √ 
 Long-standing jump√ √ 
 Shuttle run (50 m×8)√ √ 
Behavioural measures and other measures
Students’ knowledge related to energy balance√ √ We will use eight items to assess the change in students' knowledge related to energy balance. For example, we will ask students, ‘Is it correct that drinking sugar-sweetened beverage cannot substitute drinking water ?’ Three choices will be provided (right; wrong; not clear).
Students should finish the questionnaires in the classroom in the presence of the trained outcome assessors, who can provide guidance and help.
Students’ duration of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity√ √ The questions were designed based on a validated 7-day PAQ (kappa values for test-retest results were 0.46~0.79 (different measures of activity), face validity and content validity were good based on experts’ evaluations, and the correlations between the PAQ and Caltrac motion sensor data ranged from 0.38 to 0.46 (different measures of activity) for boys).21
Students should finish the questionnaires in the classroom in the presence of the trained outcome assessors, who can provide guidance and help.
Students’ eating behaviour√ √ We will use the ‘Children Eating Behaviour Questionnaire’ to assess students' eating behaviours, including their responsiveness to food and enjoyment of food. This 35-item instrument has been shown to have relatively good reliability.22
The questionnaires should be self-reported by parents or other primary caregivers of the students.
Students’ sedentary behaviour√ √ We will use a self-designed questionnaire to determine the average duration of completing homework, watching television and playing electronic devices per day during the last week.
Students should finish the questionnaires in the classroom in the presence of the trained outcome assessors, who can provide guidance and help.
School policies for the prevention and management of childhood obesity√ √ The questionnaires should be filled by the trained investigators after face-to-face interviews with school principals, doctors/healthcare teachers and physical education teachers.
Stage of readiness for behaviour change related to weight reduction√ √ We will use two items for the assessment. First, we will ask ‘Have you taken action to reduce your weight during the last 3 months?’ Yes/no choices will be provided. In addition, we will ask ‘Do you currently intend to reduce your weight?’ Five choices ranging from ‘completely do not intend’ to ‘intend to very much’ will be provided.
Students should finish the questionnaires in the classroom in the presence of the trained outcome assessors, who can provide guidance and help.

  • PAQ, physical activity questionnaire.