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Comeau A, Mertens B, Bachwal L, Utter J, van Herwerden L. Effectiveness of nutrition interventions in Australian secondary schools: A systematic review. Health Promot J Austr 2024; 35:567-587. [PMID: 37586361 DOI: 10.1002/hpja.787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
ISSUE ADDRESSED Dietary intake of Australian adolescents is suboptimal. Schools are an ideal setting for health promotion initiatives to develop healthy lifestyle behaviours among adolescents. However, we do not know which nutrition-focused, school-based interventions are effective at improving health outcomes in adolescents in Australia. Therefore, the aim was to evaluate the effect of nutrition interventions on health outcomes in Australian secondary school students. METHODS MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, ERIC and Informit were systematically searched on 4th November 2022. Studies in any language evaluating nutrition interventions implemented in Australian secondary schools were included. Studies evaluating interventions conducted in primary schools or outside the school setting were excluded, as were any grey literature, systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Screening and data extraction were performed in duplicate. Quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. RESULTS Thirteen studies (n = 27 224) reporting on nutrition interventions implemented in Australian secondary schools were included. Studies were conducted in five different states and a capital territory within Australia and were mostly randomised controlled trials. Most studies reported a significant improvement on nutrition-related health outcome measures (dietary behaviour n = 6, nutritional knowledge and attitudes n = 4 and anthropometric n = 1). CONCLUSIONS This review found limited studies reporting on nutrition interventions in Australian secondary schools. However, most were shown to be effective in improving nutrition-related health outcomes. SO WHAT?: Since there were limited studies in peer-reviewed journals, more research in this area is needed to confirm the effectiveness of nutrition interventions in Australian secondary schools and to assess long-term effects on student's health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Comeau
- Faculty of Health Science and Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Bradley Mertens
- Faculty of Health Science and Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Lavanya Bachwal
- Faculty of Health Science and Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jennifer Utter
- Faculty of Health Science and Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
- Department of Dietetics and Foodservices, Mater Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Louise van Herwerden
- Faculty of Health Science and Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
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2
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Spiga F, Tomlinson E, Davies AL, Moore TH, Dawson S, Breheny K, Savović J, Hodder RK, Wolfenden L, Higgins JP, Summerbell CD. Interventions to prevent obesity in children aged 12 to 18 years old. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2024; 5:CD015330. [PMID: 38763518 PMCID: PMC11102824 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd015330.pub2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prevention of obesity in adolescents is an international public health priority. The prevalence of overweight and obesity is over 25% in North and South America, Australia, most of Europe, and the Gulf region. Interventions that aim to prevent obesity involve strategies that promote healthy diets or 'activity' levels (physical activity, sedentary behaviour and/or sleep) or both, and work by reducing energy intake and/or increasing energy expenditure, respectively. There is uncertainty over which approaches are more effective, and numerous new studies have been published over the last five years since the previous version of this Cochrane Review. OBJECTIVES To assess the effects of interventions that aim to prevent obesity in adolescents by modifying dietary intake or 'activity' levels, or a combination of both, on changes in BMI, zBMI score and serious adverse events. SEARCH METHODS We used standard, extensive Cochrane search methods. The latest search date was February 2023. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised controlled trials in adolescents (mean age 12 years and above but less than 19 years), comparing diet or 'activity' interventions (or both) to prevent obesity with no intervention, usual care, or with another eligible intervention, in any setting. Studies had to measure outcomes at a minimum of 12 weeks post baseline. We excluded interventions designed primarily to improve sporting performance. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS We used standard Cochrane methods. Our outcomes were BMI, zBMI score and serious adverse events, assessed at short- (12 weeks to < 9 months from baseline), medium- (9 months to < 15 months) and long-term (≥ 15 months) follow-up. We used GRADE to assess the certainty of the evidence for each outcome. MAIN RESULTS This review includes 74 studies (83,407 participants); 54 studies (46,358 participants) were included in meta-analyses. Sixty studies were based in high-income countries. The main setting for intervention delivery was schools (57 studies), followed by home (nine studies), the community (five studies) and a primary care setting (three studies). Fifty-one interventions were implemented for less than nine months; the shortest was conducted over one visit and the longest over 28 months. Sixty-two studies declared non-industry funding; five were funded in part by industry. Dietary interventions versus control The evidence is very uncertain about the effects of dietary interventions on body mass index (BMI) at short-term follow-up (mean difference (MD) -0.18, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.41 to 0.06; 3 studies, 605 participants), medium-term follow-up (MD -0.65, 95% CI -1.18 to -0.11; 3 studies, 900 participants), and standardised BMI (zBMI) at long-term follow-up (MD -0.14, 95% CI -0.38 to 0.10; 2 studies, 1089 participants); all very low-certainty evidence. Compared with control, dietary interventions may have little to no effect on BMI at long-term follow-up (MD -0.30, 95% CI -1.67 to 1.07; 1 study, 44 participants); zBMI at short-term (MD -0.06, 95% CI -0.12 to 0.01; 5 studies, 3154 participants); and zBMI at medium-term (MD 0.02, 95% CI -0.17 to 0.21; 1 study, 112 participants) follow-up; all low-certainty evidence. Dietary interventions may have little to no effect on serious adverse events (two studies, 377 participants; low-certainty evidence). Activity interventions versus control Compared with control, activity interventions do not reduce BMI at short-term follow-up (MD -0.64, 95% CI -1.86 to 0.58; 6 studies, 1780 participants; low-certainty evidence) and probably do not reduce zBMI at medium- (MD 0, 95% CI -0.04 to 0.05; 6 studies, 5335 participants) or long-term (MD -0.05, 95% CI -0.12 to 0.02; 1 study, 985 participants) follow-up; both moderate-certainty evidence. Activity interventions do not reduce zBMI at short-term follow-up (MD 0.02, 95% CI -0.01 to 0.05; 7 studies, 4718 participants; high-certainty evidence), but may reduce BMI slightly at medium-term (MD -0.32, 95% CI -0.53 to -0.11; 3 studies, 2143 participants) and long-term (MD -0.28, 95% CI -0.51 to -0.05; 1 study, 985 participants) follow-up; both low-certainty evidence. Seven studies (5428 participants; low-certainty evidence) reported data on serious adverse events: two reported injuries relating to the exercise component of the intervention and five reported no effect of intervention on reported serious adverse events. Dietary and activity interventions versus control Dietary and activity interventions, compared with control, do not reduce BMI at short-term follow-up (MD 0.03, 95% CI -0.07 to 0.13; 11 studies, 3429 participants; high-certainty evidence), and probably do not reduce BMI at medium-term (MD 0.01, 95% CI -0.09 to 0.11; 8 studies, 5612 participants; moderate-certainty evidence) or long-term (MD 0.06, 95% CI -0.04 to 0.16; 6 studies, 8736 participants; moderate-certainty evidence) follow-up. They may have little to no effect on zBMI in the short term, but the evidence is very uncertain (MD -0.09, 95% CI -0.2 to 0.02; 3 studies, 515 participants; very low-certainty evidence), and they may not reduce zBMI at medium-term (MD -0.05, 95% CI -0.1 to 0.01; 6 studies, 3511 participants; low-certainty evidence) or long-term (MD -0.02, 95% CI -0.05 to 0.01; 7 studies, 8430 participants; low-certainty evidence) follow-up. Four studies (2394 participants) reported data on serious adverse events (very low-certainty evidence): one reported an increase in weight concern in a few adolescents and three reported no effect. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS The evidence demonstrates that dietary interventions may have little to no effect on obesity in adolescents. There is low-certainty evidence that activity interventions may have a small beneficial effect on BMI at medium- and long-term follow-up. Diet plus activity interventions may result in little to no difference. Importantly, this updated review also suggests that interventions to prevent obesity in this age group may result in little to no difference in serious adverse effects. Limitations of the evidence include inconsistent results across studies, lack of methodological rigour in some studies and small sample sizes. Further research is justified to investigate the effects of diet and activity interventions to prevent childhood obesity in community settings, and in young people with disabilities, since very few ongoing studies are likely to address these. Further randomised trials to address the remaining uncertainty about the effects of diet, activity interventions, or both, to prevent childhood obesity in schools (ideally with zBMI as the measured outcome) would need to have larger samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Spiga
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Eve Tomlinson
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Annabel L Davies
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Theresa Hm Moore
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- NIHR Applied Research Collaboration West (ARC West), University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK
| | - Sarah Dawson
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- NIHR Applied Research Collaboration West (ARC West), University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK
| | - Katie Breheny
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Jelena Savović
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- NIHR Applied Research Collaboration West (ARC West), University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK
| | - Rebecca K Hodder
- Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Local Health District, Wallsend, Australia
- School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
| | - Luke Wolfenden
- Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Local Health District, Wallsend, Australia
- School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Australia
| | - Julian Pt Higgins
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- NIHR Applied Research Collaboration West (ARC West), University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK
| | - Carolyn D Summerbell
- Department of Sport and Exercise Science, Durham University, Durham, UK
- Fuse - Centre for Translational Research in Public Health, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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Kajons N, Gowland-Ella J, Batchelor S, Kingon N, David M. Thirsty? Choose Water! A regional perspective to promoting water consumption in secondary school students. Public Health Nutr 2023; 26:2526-2538. [PMID: 37424298 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980023001313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Adolescents are high consumers of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), which contribute to overweight and obesity - a significant public health issue. Evidence suggests that replacing SSB with water and school-based interventions can reduce consumption. This study examines the acceptability of a previously trialled intervention (Thirsty? Choose Water!) in regional and remote secondary schools. DESIGN An open-label randomised controlled trial using a two-by-two factorial design tested the outcomes of a behavioural and/or environmental intervention on SSB and water consumption. SETTING Regional and remote secondary schools (public, catholic and independent) within the boundaries of two regional Local Health Districts within New South Wales. PARTICIPANTS Twenty-four schools participated in the study. The target group was year 7 students (n 1640) - 72 % of eligible students completed baseline data. The study followed students into year 8 (n 1188) - 52 % of eligible students completed post-intervention data. Forty teachers undertook training to deliver the intervention. RESULTS Interventions showed high levels of acceptability. Students demonstrated changes in knowledge, attitudes and consumption behaviours. Multivariable ordinal logression analysis demonstrated that all interventions increased the odds of students increasing their water consumption (though not statistically significant). Conversely, the combined (OR: 0·75; 95 % CI: 0·59, 0·97) or environmental intervention (OR: 0·68; 95 % CI: 0·51, 0·90) had greater odds of reducing SSB consumption and was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS This study builds on recent Australian evidence regarding the impact of school-based interventions on water and SSB consumption. In this study, despite a minor intervention change, and the impacts of fires, floods and COVID-19 on study implementation, the interventions were highly regarded by the school communities with positive outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Kajons
- Health Promotion Service, Central Coast Local Health District, Gosford, NSW2250, Australia
| | - Justine Gowland-Ella
- Health Promotion Service, Central Coast Local Health District, Gosford, NSW2250, Australia
| | - Samantha Batchelor
- Health Promotion Service, Central Coast Local Health District, Gosford, NSW2250, Australia
| | - Nina Kingon
- Health Promotion Service, Central Coast Local Health District, Gosford, NSW2250, Australia
| | - Michael David
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD4222, Australia
- The Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney, a joint venture with Cancer Council, NSW 153, Dowling St, Sydney, NSW2011, Australia
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4
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Giussani M, Lieti G, Orlando A, Parati G, Genovesi S. Fructose Intake, Hypertension and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Children and Adolescents: From Pathophysiology to Clinical Aspects. A Narrative Review. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:792949. [PMID: 35492316 PMCID: PMC9039289 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.792949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, alterations in glucose metabolism and fatty liver, either alone or in association, are frequently observed in obese children and may seriously jeopardize their health. For obesity to develop, an excessive intake of energy-bearing macronutrients is required; however, ample evidence suggests that fructose may promote the development of obesity and/or metabolic alterations, independently of its energy intake. Fructose consumption is particularly high among children, because they do not have the perception, and more importantly, neither do their parents, that high fructose intake is potentially dangerous. In fact, while this sugar is erroneously viewed favorably as a natural nutrient, its excessive intake can actually cause adverse cardio-metabolic alterations. Fructose induces the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and reduces the production of anti-atherosclerotic cytokines, such as adiponectin. Furthermore, by interacting with hunger and satiety control systems, particularly by inducing leptin resistance, it leads to increased caloric intake. Fructose, directly or through its metabolites, promotes the development of obesity, arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, glucose intolerance and fatty liver. This review aims to highlight the mechanisms by which the early and excessive consumption of fructose may contribute to the development of a variety of cardiometabolic risk factors in children, thus representing a potential danger to their health. It will also describe the main clinical trials performed in children and adolescents that have evaluated the clinical effects of excessive intake of fructose-containing drinks and food, with particular attention to the effects on blood pressure. Finally, we will discuss the effectiveness of measures that can be taken to reduce the intake of this sugar.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Giussani
- Cardiologic Unit, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Istituto Ricovero Cura Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, Italy
| | - Giulia Lieti
- School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonina Orlando
- Cardiologic Unit, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Istituto Ricovero Cura Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Parati
- Cardiologic Unit, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Istituto Ricovero Cura Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, Italy.,School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Simonetta Genovesi
- Cardiologic Unit, Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Istituto Ricovero Cura Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Milan, Italy.,School of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
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5
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Nury E, Stadelmaier J, Morze J, Nagavci B, Grummich K, Schwarzer G, Hoffmann G, Angele CM, Steinacker JM, Wendt J, Conrad J, Schmid D, Meerpohl JJ, Schwingshackl L. Effects of nutritional intervention strategies in the primary prevention of overweight and obesity in school settings: systematic review and network meta-analysis. BMJ MEDICINE 2022; 1:e000346. [PMID: 36936562 PMCID: PMC9951385 DOI: 10.1136/bmjmed-2022-000346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Objective To examine the effects of different nutritional intervention strategies in the school setting on anthropometric and quality of diet outcomes by comparing and ranking outcomes in a network meta-analysis. Design Systematic review and network meta-analysis. Data sources PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Web of Science, Education Resources Information Centre (ERIC), PsycInfo, CAB Abstracts, Campbell Library, Evidence for Policy and Practice Information and Co-ordinating Centre (EPPI-Centre) BiblioMap, Australian Education Index, Joanna Briggs Institute Evidence-Based Practice (JBI EBP) database, Practice-based Evidence in Nutrition (PEN) database, ClinicalTrials.gov, Current Controlled Trials, and World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. Eligibility criteria for selecting studies A systematic literature search was performed from inception to 2 May 2022. Cluster randomised controlled trials meeting these study criteria were included: generally healthy school students aged 4-18 years; intervention with ≥1 nutritional components in a school setting; and studies that assessed anthropometric measures (eg, body mass index, body fat) or measures related to the quality of diet (eg, intake of fruit and vegetables), or both. Random effects pairwise meta-analyses and network meta-analyses were performed with a frequentist approach. P scores, a frequentist analogue to surface under the cumulative ranking curve, ranging from 0 to 1 (indicating worst and best ranked interventions, respectively) were calculated. Risk of bias was assessed with Cochrane's RoB 2 tool. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) framework was used to rate the certainty of evidence. Results 51 cluster randomised controlled trials involving 75 954 participants and seven intervention nodes were included. Inconsistency could not be assessed (except for intake of fruit and vegetables) because the network meta-analyses were based mainly on star shaped networks with no direct evidence for specific pairs of nutritional interventions. Overall, little or no evidence was found to support a difference in body mass index, body weight, body fat, or waist circumference and moderate improvements in intake of fruit and vegetables with nutritional interventions in a school setting. Low to moderate certainty of evidence further suggested that multicomponent nutritional interventions likely reduced the prevalence (odds ratio 0.66, 95% confidence interval 0.55 to 0.80) and incidence (0.67, 0.47 to 0.96) of overweight compared with a control group. Based on low certainty of evidence, nutrition education and multicomponent interventions may be more effective than a control group (ie, usual practice) for increasing intake of fruit and vegetables. Multicomponent nutritional interventions were ranked the most effective for reducing body mass index (P score 0.76) and intake of fat (0.82). Nutrition education was ranked as best for body mass index z score (0.99), intake of fruit and vegetables (0.82), intake of fruit (0.92), and intake of vegetables (0.88). Conclusions The findings suggest that nutritional interventions in school settings may improve anthropometric and quality of diet measures, potentially contributing to the prevention of overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescence. The findings should be interpreted with caution because the certainty of evidence was often rated as low. The results of the network meta-analysis could be used by policy makers in developing and implementing effective, evidence based nutritional intervention strategies in the school setting. Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD42020220451.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edris Nury
- Institute for Evidence in Medicine, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Department of General Practice and Primary Care, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Julia Stadelmaier
- Institute for Evidence in Medicine, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jakub Morze
- Department of Cardiology and Internal Diseases, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland
- Department of Human Nutrition, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Blin Nagavci
- Institute for Evidence in Medicine, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Kathrin Grummich
- Institute for Evidence in Medicine, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Cochrane Germany, Cochrane Germany Foundation, Freiburg, Germany
- Institute of Medical Biometry and Statistics, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Guido Schwarzer
- Institute of Medical Biometry and Statistics, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Georg Hoffmann
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Claudia M Angele
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Centre for Teacher Education, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jürgen M Steinacker
- Division of Sports and Rehabilitation Medicine, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | - Janine Wendt
- Division of Sports and Rehabilitation Medicine, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Germany
| | - Johanna Conrad
- Science Department, German Nutrition Society, Bonn, Germany
| | - Daniela Schmid
- Division for Quantitative Methods in Public Health and Health Services Research, Department of Public Health, Health Services Research and Health Technology Assessment, UMIT - Private University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Hall in Tyrol, Austria
| | - Joerg J Meerpohl
- Institute for Evidence in Medicine, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Cochrane Germany, Cochrane Germany Foundation, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Lukas Schwingshackl
- Institute for Evidence in Medicine, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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6
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Ooi JY, Wolfenden L, Yoong SL, Janssen LM, Reilly K, Nathan N, Sutherland R. A trial of a six-month sugar-sweetened beverage intervention in secondary schools from a socio-economically disadvantaged region in Australia. Aust N Z J Public Health 2021; 45:599-607. [PMID: 34761854 DOI: 10.1111/1753-6405.13159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study assessed the effectiveness of a school-based intervention in reducing adolescents' sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption and percentage of energy from SSBs. Secondary outcomes were SSB consumption within school, average daily energy intake, and body mass index z-scores. METHODS Six secondary schools located in New South Wales, Australia were recruited to participate in a six-month pilot randomised controlled trial (1:1). The intervention included components targeting the school nutrition environment, curricula and community. Outcomes were collected via online surveys, observations, anthropometric measurements and project records. Between-group differences were assessed via linear mixed models. RESULTS At the six-month intervention endpoint (n=862) there were no statistically significant differences between students in intervention or control schools for mean daily intake of SSBs (8.55mL; CI -26.77, 43.87; p=0.63), percentage daily energy from SSBs (0.12% kJ; CI -0.55, 0.80; p=0.72), or for secondary outcomes. Acceptability of the school-based strategies were high, however intervention fidelity varied across schools. CONCLUSION While acceptable, improving fidelity of implementation and increasing the duration or intensity of the intervention may be required to reduce SSB intake. Implications for public health: Engaging parents and education stakeholders in the development phase to co-design interventions may prove beneficial in improving intervention fidelity and enhance behavioural outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Ying Ooi
- Hunter New England Population Health, New South Wales.,School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, New South Wales
| | - Luke Wolfenden
- Hunter New England Population Health, New South Wales.,School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, New South Wales
| | - Sze Lin Yoong
- Hunter New England Population Health, New South Wales.,School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, New South Wales
| | | | - Kathryn Reilly
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, New South Wales.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, New South Wales
| | - Nicole Nathan
- Hunter New England Population Health, New South Wales.,School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, New South Wales
| | - Rachel Sutherland
- Hunter New England Population Health, New South Wales.,School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, New South Wales
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