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

Abstract

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.

Sugar Content of Market Beverages and Children’s Sugar Intake from Beverages in Beijing, China

“…Greater demand of activities and energy among boys and older students, more discretionary pocket money, greater freedom of snack choice among older students and the nutrition education gap between urban and rural areas may cause the differences in beverage consumption. Parent-and school-based intervention can strongly influence the food choices of students [36,37]. Parents and teachers are advised to provide targeted nutrition education to students to reduce beverage consumption, especially for boys, older students and students in rural areas.…”

An Integrated Control Plan in Primary Schools: Results of a Field Investigation on Nutritional and Hygienic Features in the Apulia Region (Southern Italy)

“…With regard to incorrect habits, our sample, compared with national population, showed a high level of skipping breakfast (10.8% vs. 8.7%), low intake of fruits and vegetables (40.2% vs. 24.3%), and unhealthy snacking (76.3% vs. 55.2%) [ 3 ]. The latter habits have been associated not only with bad nutritional status but also with low cognitive performance [ 9 ]. With regard to physical activities, 55% of the sample went to school by walking or cycling (compared with 26.6% at the national level), and 40.1% in the afternoon watch TV or play videogames/tablet/cellphones (compared with 44.5% at the national level).…”

“…However, it is particularly interesting to underline that eating at school was more common among students with normal weight and, on the contrary, that obese and overweight subclasses were associated with students who did not eat at school. Although this evidence needs to be studied in depth, it highlights the potential role that the school environments may play in health promotion to prevent nutritional disorders [ 9 ]. Consuming a nutritionally correct meal, one that is adequate to the needs of children and adolescents in the school context, may represent a qualitative and quantitative guarantee with respect to the energy needs of this target population: often the school canteen is the only time when the meal consumed meets the macro- and micronutrient needs of children.…”

“…It is also demonstrated that nutritional status in school-aged children is related to unhealthy behaviors (such as skipping breakfast, low intake of fruits and vegetables, and unhealthy snacking) and insufficient physical activity, which may be reflected in cognitive performance too [ 9 , 10 ]. In Italy, with regard to these aspects, the last national survey on nutritional aspects showed that 44.3% of children skip or have an inadequate breakfast, 24.3% do not eat fruit or vegetables daily, unhealthy snacks are consumed by 48.3%, and 20.3% do not practice any physical activity [ 3 ].…”

“…In Italy, with regard to these aspects, the last national survey on nutritional aspects showed that 44.3% of children skip or have an inadequate breakfast, 24.3% do not eat fruit or vegetables daily, unhealthy snacks are consumed by 48.3%, and 20.3% do not practice any physical activity [ 3 ]. At the same time, the increasing prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity is often related to school environment features [ 9 ].…”