scholarly journals The Effects of the Healthy Primary School of the Future on Children’s Fruit and Vegetable Preferences, Familiarity and Intake

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 3241
Author(s):  
Marla T. H. Hahnraths ◽  
Maartje Willeboordse ◽  
Patricia van Assema ◽  
Bjorn Winkens ◽  
Constant P. van Schayck
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Primary School ◽  
Mere Exposure ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable ◽  
School Based ◽  
Widespread Implementation ◽  
The Future ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Taste Exposure ◽  
One Year

Mere exposure is an often-described strategy to increase children’s food familiarity, preferences, and intake. Research investigating this method in less controlled settings is scarce. This study investigates the effects of repeated fruit and vegetable (FV) exposure through the Healthy Primary School of the Future (HPSF) on children’s FV familiarity, preferences, and intake. The study had a longitudinal quasi-experimental design comparing two full HPSFs (focus: nutrition and physical activity) with two partial HPSFs (focus: physical activity) in the Netherlands. Annual measurements (child-reported questionnaires) were conducted during 2015–2019 in 833 7–12-year-old children. The study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02800616). After correction for baseline, full HPSFs had, on average, a lower number of unfamiliar vegetable items after one (effect size (ES) = −0.28) and three years (ES = −0.35) and a higher number of disliked vegetable items after one year (ES = 0.24) than partial HPSFs. Unfavorable intervention effects were observed for fruit intake after one (odds ratio (OR) = 0.609) and four years (OR = 0.451). Repeated FV exposure had limited effects on children’s FV familiarity, preferences, and intake, likely due to insufficient taste exposure. Considering the widespread implementation of school-based mere exposure efforts, it is highly relevant to further investigate under which circumstances mere exposure effectively contributes to improvements in (determinants of) FV intake.

scholarly journals One- and Two-Year Effects of the Healthy Primary School of the Future on Children’s Dietary and Physical Activity Behaviours: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 689 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina H.M. Bartelink ◽  
Patricia van Assema ◽  
Stef P.J. Kremers ◽  
Hans H.C.M. Savelberg ◽  
Marije Oosterhoff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Primary School ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Health Behaviours ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Children's Health ◽  
Children’S Health ◽  
The Future ◽  
Quasi Experimental

Schools can help to improve children’s health. The ‘Healthy Primary School of the Future’ (HPSF) aims to sustainably integrate health and well-being into the school system. This study examined the effects of HPSF on children’s dietary and physical activity (PA) behaviours after 1 and 2 years’ follow-up. The study (n = 1676 children) has a quasi-experimental design with four intervention schools, i.e., two full HPSF (focus: nutrition and PA) and two partial HPSF (focus: PA), and four control schools. Accelerometers and child- and parent-reported questionnaires were used at baseline, after 1 (T1) and 2 (T2) years. Mixed-model analyses showed significant favourable effects for the full HPSF versus control schools for, among others, school water consumption (effect size (ES) = 1.03 (T1), 1.14 (T2)), lunch intake of vegetables (odds ratio (OR) = 3.17 (T1), 4.39 (T2)) and dairy products (OR = 4.43 (T1), 4.52 (T2)), sedentary time (ES = −0.23 (T2)) and light PA (ES = 0.22 (T2)). Almost no significant favourable effects were found for partial HPSF compared to control schools. We conclude that the full HPSF is effective in promoting children’s health behaviours at T1 and T2 compared with control schools. Focusing on both nutrition and PA components seems to be more effective in promoting healthy behaviours than focusing exclusively on PA.

scholarly journals Can the Healthy Primary School of the Future offer perspective in the ongoing obesity epidemic in young children? A Dutch quasi-experimental study

BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. e030676 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina H M Bartelink ◽  
Patricia van Assema ◽  
Stef P J Kremers ◽  
Hans H C M Savelberg ◽  
Marije Oosterhoff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Primary School ◽  
Weight Status ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Z Score ◽  
Obesity Epidemic ◽  
The Future ◽  
Quasi Experimental

ObjectivesSchools play an important role in promoting healthy behaviours in children and can offer perspective in the ongoing obesity epidemic. The ‘Healthy Primary School of the Future’ (HPSF) aims to improve children’s health and well-being by enhancing school health promotion. The current study aims to assess the effect of HPSF on children’s body mass index (BMI) z-score after 1 and 2 years follow-up and to investigate whether HPSF has different effects within specific subgroups of children.DesignA longitudinal quasi-experimental design.SettingFour intervention and four control schools participated; located in a low socioeconomic status region in the Netherlands.Participants1676 children (aged 4–12 years).InterventionsHPSF uses a contextual systems approach and includes health-promoting changes in the school. Central to HPSF is the provision of a daily healthy lunch and structured physical activity sessions each day. Two intervention schools implemented both changes (full HPSF), two intervention schools implemented only the physical activity change (partial HPSF).Main outcome measuresBMI z-score, determined by measurements of children’s height and weight at baseline, after 1 and 2 years follow-up.ResultsThe intervention effect was significant after 1-year follow-up in the partial HPSF (standardised effect size (ES)=−0.05), not significant in the full HPSF (ES=−0.04). After 2 years follow-up, BMI z-score had significantly decreased in children of both the full HPSF (ES=−0.08) and the partial HPSF (ES=−0.07) compared with children of the control schools, whose mean BMI z-score increased from baseline to 2 years. None of the potential effect modifiers (gender, baseline study year, socioeconomic status and baseline weight status) were significant.ConclusionsHPSF was effective after 1 and 2 years follow-up in lowering children’s BMI z-scores. No specific subgroups of children could be identified who benefitted more from the intervention.Trial registration numberNCT02800616.

Attaining the Active School Flag: How physical activity provision can be enhanced in Irish primary schools

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Bowles ◽  
Déirdre Ní Chróinín ◽  
Elaine Murtagh
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Primary School ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Positive Health ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
School Communities ◽  
Physical Activity Interventions ◽  
School Based ◽  
School Initiatives

The provision of regular physical activity opportunities has the potential to have positive health benefits for children. This study used qualitative interviews and focus groups to examine the experiences of two Irish primary school communities as they worked to attain an Active School Flag. The data suggest that engagement in this formal physical activity initiative impacts positively on children’s engagement in physical activity. Schools were encouraged to embark on innovative activities that attracted widespread participation within schools and in the wider community. The establishment of links with community groups fostered collaborations that were empowering and inclusive. This research supports the contention that primary school initiatives can provide enhanced physical activity opportunities for children, and may provide guidance to national and international policy-makers as they devise school-based physical activity interventions.

scholarly journals A Cost Analysis of School-Based Lifestyle Interventions

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 716-727 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marije Oosterhoff ◽  
Hans Bosma ◽  
Onno C.P. van Schayck ◽  
Manuela A. Joore
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Steady State ◽  
Primary School ◽  
Relative Effectiveness ◽  
First Year ◽  
Lifestyle Interventions ◽  
Stakeholder Perspectives ◽  
School Based ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Cost Offsets

Abstract A uniform approach for costing school-based lifestyle interventions is currently lacking. The objective of this study was to develop a template for costing primary school-based lifestyle interventions and apply this to the costing of the “Healthy Primary School of the Future” (HPSF) and the “Physical Activity School” (PAS), which aim to improve physical activity and dietary behaviors. Cost-effectiveness studies were reviewed to identify the cost items. Societal costs were reflected by summing up the education, household and leisure, labor and social security, and health perspectives. Cost inputs for HPSF and PAS were obtained for the first year after implementation. In a scenario analysis, the costs were explored for a hypothetical steady state. From a societal perspective, the per child costs were €2.7/$3.3 (HPSF) and €− 0.3/$− 0.4 (PAS) per day during the first year after implementation, and €1.0/$1.2 and €− 1.3/$− 1.6 in a steady state, respectively (2016 prices). The highest costs were incurred by the education perspective (first year: €8.7/$10.6 (HPSF) and €4.0/$4.9 (PAS); steady state: €6.1/$7.4 (HPSF) and €2.1/$2.6 (PAS)), whereas most of the cost offsets were received by the household and leisure perspective (first year: €− 6.0/$− 7.3 (HPSF) and €− 4.4/$− 5.4 (PAS); steady state: €− 5.0/$− 6.1 (HPSF) and €− 3.4/$− 4.1 (PAS)). The template proved helpful for costing HPSF and PAS from various stakeholder perspectives. The costs for the education sector were fully (PAS) and almost fully (HPSF) compensated by the savings within the household sector. Whether the additional costs of HPSF over PAS represent value for money will depend on their relative effectiveness.

scholarly journals Evaluation of a PSE School-Based Fruit and Vegetable Intervention (P04-166-19)

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Caterina Morgera ◽  
Kate Balestracci ◽  
Joanna Raymond ◽  
Sarah Amin ◽  
Geoffrey Greene
Keyword(s):  
Low Income ◽  
Vegetable Intake ◽  
Fruit And Vegetable ◽  
Standard Instruction ◽  
Funding Sources ◽  
School Based ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Wellness Policies ◽  
Post Assessment

Abstract Objectives To determine the effect of a policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) intervention, Students Take Charge! (STC) among 4th and 5th grade students from low-income communities on 1) fruit and vegetable (FV) intake, and 2) FV variety, PSE and FV knowledge, and self-efficacy (SE) to ask for FV at school and home. Methods A quasi-experimental design was used involving six schools over two years. Schools were purposely selected; two schools each year either received STC or standard instruction. The study sample includes students (n = 326 intervention; n = 351 comparison) providing pre and post data (baseline and post-assessment at week 18). SNAP-Ed educators provided the 8-lesson STC curriculum across 18 weeks; comparison students received standard instruction. STC is a school-based PSE intervention focusing on empowering students to make FV based changes at school and at home. STC taught students about wellness policies, persuasive messages, and making requests; it cumulated with a vote to add a student submitted FV-based recipe to the school lunch menu. In addition, STC provided information about the importance of FV intake and variety. Students completed the STC survey at both time points assessing FV intake, variety, knowledge and SE. Analyses compared intervention and comparison students from baseline to post-assessment using ANCOVA (1) and MANOVA (2). Results From baseline to post-assessment, there were significant differences (P < 0.01) between intervention and comparison students; intervention students decreased fruit intake and variety, increased PSE knowledge and SE in school.There were no differences in vegetable intake, variety or FV knowledge between intervention and comparison students. There was a trend (P = .09) towards increased student SE to ask parents for FV in the home in the intervention students compared to the comparison students. Conclusions STC was associated with an increase in PSE knowledge and student SE to ask for FV in school. STC may require additional strategies, including home-based strategies, to increase FV knowledge, intake, and variety behavior changes. Funding Sources USDA SNAP-Ed.

scholarly journals Impact of a Georgia elementary school-based intervention on physical activity opportunities: A quasi-experimental study

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Cheung ◽  
Padra Franks ◽  
Michael Kramer ◽  
Carolyn Drews-Botsch ◽  
Jean Welsh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Experimental Study ◽  
Elementary School ◽  
School Based Intervention ◽  
School Based ◽  
Quasi Experimental
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