scholarly journals Impacts of a School-Based Intervention That Incorporates Nutrition Education and a Supportive Healthy School Canteen Environment among Primary School Children in Malaysia

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1712
Author(s):  
Choon Huey Teo ◽  
Yit Siew Chin ◽  
Poh Ying Lim ◽  
Shahril Azian Haji Masrom ◽  
Zalilah Mohd Shariff

In this study, a school nutrition program (SNP) that incorporates nutrition education and a healthy school canteen environment was developed to improve nutrition knowledge among intervention respondents and provide a healthier environment for them to practice healthy eating. In the current study, we evaluated the impacts of the SNP on eating behaviors, physical activity, body mass index-for-age (BAZ), and cognitive performance at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up points between intervention and comparison groups. This intervention study involved 523 primary school children (7–11 years old) from six selected schools in Batu Pahat District, Malaysia. Each respondent completed anthropometric and cognitive performance assessments and a set of standardized questionnaire at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up points. Multiple linear mixed model analysis was performed to determine the impacts of that SNP after being adjusted for covariates. After the program, the intervention group increased their frequency of breakfast, lunch, and dinner consumption and morning tea snacking and showed more frequent physical activity and better cognitive performance as compared to the comparison group overtime (p < 0.05). At 3-month follow-up, the intervention group showed lower BAZ scores than their comparison counterparts (p < 0.05). The SNP showed positive effects on eating behaviors, physical activity, BAZ, and cognitive performance in school children. Hence, the SNP is highly recommended for all primary school children.

2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 300-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaine Murtagh ◽  
Maureen Mulvihill ◽  
Oonagh Markey

The school has been identified as a key setting to promote physical activity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a classroom-based activity break on in-school step counts of primary school children. Data for 90 children (49 boys, 41 girls, 9.3 ± 1.4 years) from three Irish primary schools is presented. In each school one class was randomly assigned as the intervention group and another as controls. Children’s step counts were measured for five consecutive days during school hours at baseline and follow-up. Teachers of the intervention classes led a 10 min activity break in the classroom each day (Bizzy Break!). Mean daily in-school steps for the intervention at baseline and follow-up were 5351 and 5054. Corresponding values for the control group were 5469 and 4246. There was a significant difference in the change in daily steps from baseline to follow-up between groups (p < .05). There was no evidence that girls and boys responded differently to the intervention (p > .05). Children participating in a daily 10 min classroom-based activity break undertake more physical activity during school hours than controls.


2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 290-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosemarie Martin ◽  
Elaine Murtagh

Background:A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted to assess the effectiveness of the Active Classrooms intervention, which integrates movement into academic lessons, on the moderate-to-vigorous physical activity levels (MVPA) of primary school children during class-time and throughout the school day.Methods:Ten classroom teachers and their students aged 8 to 12 years were recruited and randomized into the Active Classrooms intervention group (n = 131students, n = 5teachers) or a delayed-treatment controlled group (n = 117students, n = 5teachers). The intervention group participated in active academic lessons taught by the classroom teacher over an 8 week period. Accelerometers were used to gather physical activity data at baseline, postintervention and at 4 months follow-up. Teachers completed a questionnaire to evaluate the program.Results:A significant difference for change in daily class time MVPA levels was identified between the treatment (n = 95) and control (n = 91) groups from pre- to postintervention (P < .001) and this difference was maintained at follow-up (P < .001). No significant difference emerged between the treatment and control groups for change in school day MVPA levels from pre- to postintervention (P = .52) or follow-up (P = .09). Teachers reported that they were highly satisfied with the program.Conclusions:Movement integration has the potential to improve physical activity levels of primary school children in the classroom.


Author(s):  
Tetsuhiro Kidokoro ◽  
Yasuo Shimizu ◽  
Kanako Edamoto ◽  
Michael Annear

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of height-adjustable standing desks on time-series variation in sedentary behavior (SB) among primary school children. Thirty-eight children aged 11–12 years (22 boys and 16 girls) from two classes at a primary school in Nagano, Japan, participated in this study. One class was allocated as the intervention group and provided with individual standing desks for 6 months, and the other was allocated as the control group. Time spent in SB, light-intensity physical activity (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) was measured using accelerometers (ActiGraph) at baseline and follow-up. Time spent in SB was significantly lower by 18.3 min/day on average in the intervention class at follow-up (interaction effects: F(1, 36) = 4.95, p = 0.035, η2 = 0.082). This was accompanied by a significant increase in time spent in MVPA (+19.9 min/day on average). Our time-series analysis showed significant decreases in SB during school time, while no change in SB was found during non-school time. This result indicates that the use of standing desks promotes an overall reduction in SB with no compensatory increase during non-school time.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. e107031 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eero A. Haapala ◽  
Anna-Maija Poikkeus ◽  
Katriina Kukkonen-Harjula ◽  
Tuomo Tompuri ◽  
Niina Lintu ◽  
...  

2009 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 693-701 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pauline AL Ashfield-Watt ◽  
Elizabeth A Stewart ◽  
Judi A Scheffer

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the uptake of a free fruit provision to low-decile primary-school children by quantitatively assessing changes in fruit intake.DesignA randomised controlled trial using a paired, cluster randomisation.SettingTwenty low-decile primary schools (schools attended by the most deprived children) in Auckland, New Zealand.SubjectsIn total 2032 children, aged 7–11 years, provided data on at least one occasion.InterventionTen pairs of low-decile primary schools matched by roll size and location were randomly allocated to control (no free fruit) or intervention (free fruit) for a school term. Dietary assessments using the 24 h recall methodology were made at baseline, on the last week of the intervention and 6 weeks post-intervention.ResultsFruit intakes in this cohort were lower than the national average with over 40 % reporting no fruit intake at baseline and did not differ between groups. After the free fruit period the intervention group increased school fruit intakes by 0·39 pieces/school d from baseline (P≤ 0·001) and the proportion of children consuming no fruit reduced to 22 %. This increase, however, was not sustained and fruit intakes fell below baseline levels at 6 weeks post-intervention. Control subjects did not significantly alter their fruit intakes throughout the study.ConclusionsImproving exposure and accessibility to fruits at school increases fruit intakes of low socio-economic group children, particularly those who do not normally eat fruit. The present pilot study demonstrates some possible negative effects of short-term free fruit interventions, but is informative for developing and evaluating sustained fruit intervention programmes.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1504
Author(s):  
Cristiano Scandurra ◽  
Antonio Santaniello ◽  
Serena Cristiano ◽  
Fabrizio Mezza ◽  
Susanne Garzillo ◽  
...  

Emotion comprehension (EC) is a crucial competence for children, as it determines the quality of peer interactions. This study assessed the efficacy of an animal-assisted education (AAE) intervention with dogs based on the Federico II Model of Healthcare Zooanthropology (FMHZ) to promote EC in a group of primary school children. One hundred and four children (48 females) aged 6–7 years took part in the study, of whom 63 participated in the AAE intervention (i.e., experimental group) and 41 did not (i.e., control group). The intervention was deployed in a school setting through a group format and consisted of five bimonthly sessions. EC was assessed pre- and post-intervention, and at a 3-month follow-up. Student’s t-test and mixed-model ANOVA were performed to analyze the effect of the intervention on EC. EC significantly improved in children of the experimental group compared to the control group. Significant time effects from pre- to post-intervention, post-intervention to follow-up, and pre-intervention to follow-up assessment were found in the experimental group only. AAE based on FMHZ was effective in improving EC in children.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 200
Author(s):  
RAHMITA YANTI

The main nutritional problems facing the Indonesian government one of Iodine deficiency disorders (IDD). West Sumatra province found the prevalence of enlarged adenoids school children is still high which ranges from 12% -44,1% and Total Goiter Rate also high in the coastal region. This study aims to determine the factors cause iodine deficiency disorder (IDD) and relationship to nutritional status of primary school children 36 Singgalang Tanah Datar.This type of research is Case Control. The study population are the all of primary school children 36 Singgalang Tanah Datar, aged 9-12 years who suffered goiter examined palpation. The sample consisted of 30 cases and 30 controls. Sampling was done by purposive sampling technique. Data were processed using univariate, bivariate with chisquare test.The research results revealed there is relationship IDD to nutritional status of primary school children 36 Singgalang Tanah Datar (p = 0,034 (95% CI: 1,2 to 11,4)), an related of iodine intake (p = 0,016 (95% CI: 1,5 -14,4)), goitrogenik intake (p = 0,039 (95% CI: 1,2-9,9)), the quality of salt (p = 0,038 (95% CI: 1,2 to 10,2)), socioeconomic status (p = 0,02 (95% CI: 1,4-11,8), and the level of parents knowledge (p = 0,039 (95% CI: 1,2 to 9,9)) with iodine deficiency disorder. While variable which is not related to iodine deficiency disorder is the parents education level p = 0,77 (p value> 0,05)This study concluded that there is relationship IDD to nutritional status and there are relationship iodine intake, goitrogenik, salt quality, socioeconomic status, and level of knowledge of parent with iodine deficiency disorder. Need for nutrition counseling conducted by the health promotion officers regularly about the importance of the use of iodized salt for children's growth and nutrition education in the family menu processing so as to improve the nutritional status of children at the household levelKeywords : Iodine deficiency disorder, nutritional status, school children


2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 467-474 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Cañete García-Prieto ◽  
Vicente Martinez-Vizcaino ◽  
Antonio García-Hermoso ◽  
Mairena Sánchez-López ◽  
Natalia Arias-Palencia ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to examine the energy expenditure (EE) measured using indirect calorimetry (IC) during playground games and to assess the validity of heart rate (HR) and accelerometry counts as indirect indicators of EE in children´s physical activity games. 32 primary school children (9.9 ± 0.6 years old, 19.8 ± 4.9 kg · m-2 BMI and 37.6 ± 7.2 ml · kg-1 · min-1 VO2max). Indirect calorimetry (IC), accelerometry and HR data were simultaneously collected for each child during a 90 min session of 30 playground games. Thirty-eight sessions were recorded in 32 different children. Each game was recorded at least in three occasions in other three children. The intersubject coefficient of variation within a game was 27% for IC, 37% for accelerometry and 13% for HR. The overall mean EE in the games was 4.2 ± 1.4 kcals · min-1 per game, totaling to 375 ± 122 kcals/per 90 min/session. The correlation coefficient between indirect calorimetry and accelerometer counts was 0.48 (p = .026) for endurance games and 0.21 (p = .574) for strength games. The correlation coefficient between indirect calorimetry and HR was 0.71 (p = .032) for endurance games and 0.48 (p = .026) for strength games. Our data indicate that both accelerometer and HR monitors are useful devices for estimating EE during endurance games, but only HR monitors estimates are accurate for endurance games.


2011 ◽  
Vol 35 (6) ◽  
pp. 507-516 ◽  
Author(s):  
Syeda Shamama-tus-Sabah ◽  
Nighat Gilani ◽  
Theodore D. Wachs

Recent findings from Western developed countries have linked home chaos to children’s cognitive performance and behavioral problems. In the present paper we test whether the same pattern of associations can be replicated in a non-Western developing country. Our sample was 203 Pakistani primary school children. To assess home chaos the Confusion, Hubbub, and Order Scale (CHAOS) was translated into Urdu and administered to mothers. Children were assessed using the parent and teachers rating forms of the Behavioral Assessment System for Children and the Raven's Standard Progressive Matrices. Home chaos was not related to children’s cognitive performance. However, replicating previous findings from Western developed countries, greater home chaos uniquely predicted higher levels of internalizing and externalizing behavioral problems as well as lower levels of adaptive behavior in Pakistani children, as rated by both mothers and teachers.


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