Improved food habits and anthropometry among primary school children following a novel healthy eating programme
Authors' conclusion
This programme led to sustained improvement in food habits among young primary school children from all BMI categories, increase in BMI towards the median among children living with UW and NW, and stabilization of BMI in children with OW and OB, suggesting it as a useful tool for improving nutritional status of young children in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) facing the double burden of under- and overnutrition.
Study context
- Population
- Grades 1–2 primary school students aged 6–8 years, four public schools in Colombo, Sri Lankaaged 6–8 years
- Participants
- 863 participants
- Comparison
- Follow-up vs baseline
- Outcome
- Food diary (FD) score
- Follow-up
- 9–12 months after programme
Methodological detailspre-post, single group, 4 public schools, Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Pre-post, single group
- 4 public schools
- Colombo, Sri Lanka
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
P < 0.001
- Significant increase in food diary (FD) scores in all BMI subgroups (UW, NW, OW, OB), ranging from 14.1% to 17.2%
- P < 0.001
Further findings
BMI z-score by BMI subgroup (baseline to follow-up) · 9–12 months after programme
- UW: increased −2.85 to −2.21
- P < 0.00
- NW: increased −0.70 to −0.57
- P < 0.001
- OW: no change +1.5 to +1.49
- P = 0.83
- OB: no change +2.85 to +2.21
- P = 0.19
Parental satisfaction with programme outcomes
- Parents reporting satisfaction
- n = 497, 97.8%
Original publication
Improved food habits and anthropometry among primary school children following a novel healthy eating programme. Pediatr Obes. Published 4 September 2024. doi:10.
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