Objective: To describe the effects of a controlled family-based health education/counseling intervention on health behaviors of children with a familial history of cardiovascular diseases (FH-CVDs).
Methods: The intervention group (IG, n=432) received 5 counseling sessions. The control groups 1 (CG1, n=200) and 2 (CG2, n=423) received no counseling. Outcome measures comprised changes in diet, exercise, and cigarette smoking.
Results: The changes in the use of fats and salt, and in exercise, were more favorable in IG than in CG1 and/or CG2.
Conclusion: Health education/counseling produced positive effects on diet and nutrition in particular and in part in exercise.