Study of the role of nutrition education in the process of weight loss.

Objective: Our study aims to assess the effectiveness of nutrition education in fighting overweight and obesity. Methods: The study enrolled healthy adult women from Casablanca, Morocco with overweight or obesity. 96 women participated to the study, but only 52 participated to the end. Participants were randomized into 3 groups: control group (CG), group 1 (G1 participatedto a seminar of nutrition education), and group 2 (G2 participated to 2 follow-up sessions per month).Anthropometric measurements and body composition were taken at the baseline and after 12 weeks of the beginning of the study.Results: Both participating groups showed a significant decrease in weight after the 12 weeks, (G2: 3.2 kg ± 0.65 (p<0.01); G1: 1.4 kg ± 1.33 (p<0.01)).Significant changes also have been noticed in the body composition parameters (body fat and skeletal muscles) in both groups. The control group didn’t show any significant changes.Conclusions: Our findings suggest that nutrition education might be a cost-effective way to fight and prevent obesity in Morocco especially in communities with little knowledge about good diet and the consequences of obesity.