Effects of a comprehensive nutrition education programme to change grade 4 primary-school students’ eating behaviours in China

Bibliographic Data

ID15093709
AuthorsLing Qian (0000-0001-5289-9765, Chinese Center For Disease Control and Prevention), Ian M Newman (0000-0002-4669-7064, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, corresponding author), Lok-Wa Yuen, Lok‐Wa Yuen (University of Nebraska–Lincoln), Weijing Du (Chinese Center For Disease Control and Prevention), Duane F Shell (0000-0001-9037-5815, University of Nebraska–Lincoln)
Year2019
Volume22
Issue5
Pages903-911
Publication date2019-04-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePublic Health Nutrition (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1368-9800 • E-ISSN: 1475-2727
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s1368980018003713
PMID30616695
OpenAlexW2909297255
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited14

Objective As part of a national initiative to reduce child obesity, a comprehensive school-based nutrition education intervention to change eating behaviours among grade 4 primary-school students was developed, implemented and evaluated. Design The intervention was developed by school staff, with technical assistance from outside health education specialists. The programme included school facility upgrades, school teacher/staff training, curriculum changes and activities for parents. Student scores on nine key eating behaviours were assessed prior to and after the programme. The quality of programme implementation in the schools was monitored by technical assistance teams. Setting Shandong Province (high household income) and Qinghai Province (low household income), China. Three programme schools and three control schools in each province. Participants Students in grade 4 (age 8–9 years). Results There were significant positive changes in self-reported eating behaviour scores from pre- to post-assessment in programme schools. At post-test students in programme schools had significantly higher scores than students in control schools after controlling for other variables. The programme was more effective in the high-income province. Observations by the technical assistance teams suggested the programme was implemented more completely in Shandong. The teams noted the challenges for implementing and evaluating programmes like these. Conclusions This intervention increased healthy eating behaviours among 4th graders in both provinces and had more effect in the more affluent province. Results suggest that a scaled-up initiative using existing school and public health resources could change eating practices in a large population over time. The intervention also provided lessons for implementing and evaluating similar nutrition programmes

China · Curriculum · Environmental health · Healthy eating · Intervention (counseling · Medical education · Pedagogy · Physical activity · Physical therapy · Political science · Population · Test (biology · Eating Disorders and Behaviors · Medicine · Nursing · Nutrition, Health and Food Behavior · Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet · Psychology

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