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Peral-Suárez Á, Haycraft E, Blyth F, Holley CE, Pearson N. Dietary habits across the primary-secondary school transition: A systematic review. Appetite 2024; 201:107612. [PMID: 39067482 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2024.107612] [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: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The transition to secondary school involves significant changes in children's social and physical environment, which are often accompanied by changes in dietary habits. However, evidence around how dietary habits change during this life-stage transition is variable. OBJECTIVE This review aimed to identify, critically appraise, and summarise the wide-ranging evidence on changes in dietary habits across the primary-secondary school transition. METHODS Four electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus) were searched for relevant studies published in English or Spanish from inception to February 2024. Longitudinal studies with a baseline quantitative assessment of dietary habits when children were in their last year or two of primary/elementary school with at least one follow-up assessment of dietary habits when children were in their first or second year of secondary/middle/junior-high school were eligible for inclusion. RESULTS Seven studies (10 independent samples) were eligible for inclusion, and fourteen different dietary habits outcomes were reported across the seven studies. The frequency of consuming breakfast, fruit, vegetables, and milk decreased across the primary-secondary school transition. Inconsistent results were found regarding changes in the frequency of consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, fruit juice, snacks, and fast-foods. Many dietary habits were only evaluated in single studies. CONCLUSIONS There is moderate evidence for a decrease in the frequency of consumption of breakfast, fruit, vegetables, and milk in children across the transition from primary to secondary school. This highlights this timeframe as a valuable period for intervention to promote the continuation of positive dietary habits. More high-quality longitudinal studies using homogeneous methodologies to evaluate changes in dietary habits across the school transition are needed to fully understand the implications of this transition on children's diet and health behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- África Peral-Suárez
- Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK.
| | - Emma Haycraft
- School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
| | - Finn Blyth
- School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
| | - Clare E Holley
- School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
| | - Natalie Pearson
- School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK
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Rose I, Merlo C, Dorleans C, McConnell L, Murray C, Pampati S, Lee S, Applebaum M. Challenges With School Meal Provisions in K-12 Public Schools: Findings From the National School COVID-19 Prevention Study. J Sch Nurs 2024:10598405241267020. [PMID: 39056195 DOI: 10.1177/10598405241267020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
School meals play a vital role in supporting student health. Access to school meals was disrupted during COVID-19-related school closures, impacting student nutritional intake and household food insecurity. Data from the National School COVID-19 Prevention Study Survey and school staff focus groups were used to examine challenges to school meal provision in K-12 public schools. Data were analyzed using R and MAXQDA. Survey data indicated that most schools served breakfast and lunch in the cafeteria or classroom during the 2021-2022 school year. City schools were less likely to experience challenges with receiving the foods and supplies needed for school meal programs. Qualitative data revealed that school meal participation increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, however schools encountered challenges when implementing the program including staff shortages and supply chain issues. Findings from this study can help strengthen the K-12 school meal system to equitably serve students in future public health emergencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- India Rose
- Public Health Solutions Portfolio, ICF, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Caitlin Merlo
- CDC Division of Adolescent and School Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Luke McConnell
- Public Health Solutions Portfolio, ICF, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Colleen Murray
- Public Health Solutions Portfolio, ICF, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sanjana Pampati
- CDC Division of Adolescent and School Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sarah Lee
- CDC Division of Adolescent and School Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Margaret Applebaum
- Food and Nutrition Service, United States Department of Agriculture, New Alexandria, VA, USA
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Mirabelli KM, Schultz BK, Schoemann AM, Bell SR, Lazorick S. Psychometric Properties of a Wellness Behavior Rating Scale for Young Adolescents. Eval Health Prof 2024:1632787241263372. [PMID: 39030071 DOI: 10.1177/01632787241263372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/21/2024]
Abstract
We examined the psychometric properties of the Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Technology (PANT) survey, developed by researchers to track weight management behaviors among youth. Data from 2,039 middle school students (M age = 12.4, SD = .5; 51.4% girls) were analyzed to explore and then confirm the factor structure of the PANT survey. We also examined the bivariate associations between the PANT survey, body mass index (BMI), and the Progressive Aerobic Cardiorespiratory Endurance Run (PACER). Results suggest that the PANT survey is comprised of two factors-Physical Activity and Healthy Choices-each with adequate internal consistency (α = .79 and 0.86, respectively). The Physical Activity subscale appears to be significantly associated with both z-BMI (r = -0.10, p < .001) and the PACER (r = 0.33, p < .001) in the anticipated directions, but the criterion validity of the Healthy Choices subscale is less clear. We discuss these findings and explore future directions for developing meaningful self-report wellness behavior scales for youth.
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Cygan HR, Dombrowski RD, Moore EWG, Tully J, Kin K, Hansen E. Development of a School Health Policy Implementation Survey: A Delphi Study. J Sch Nurs 2024; 40:135-143. [PMID: 34882017 DOI: 10.1177/10598405211057588] [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: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Data on school health policy implementation are limited due to the absence of a validated measurement tool. The purpose of this study was to create and pilot a school health policy implementation survey. A modified, four-round Delphi process was used to achieve consensus on content and format of the survey. The final 76-item survey was piloted in 655 schools with a return rate of 57.1% (n = 378). Seven schools participated in environmental audits. Based on the audits, survey responses represented an accurate description of school practices for 84.2% (n = 64) of questions. The remaining 15.8% (n = 12) of survey items were eliminated or revised. This measurement tool begins to fill the research gap between the evaluation of written school health policy and implementation. Further, this tool may be used by school nurses in alignment with the Framework for 21st Century School Nursing Practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heide R Cygan
- Community, Systems and Mental Health Nursing, Rush University College of Nursing, Chicago, IL
| | - Rachael D Dombrowski
- Division of Kinesiology Health and Sport Studies, College of Education, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
| | - E Whitney G Moore
- Kinesiology, Health & Sport Studies, Achievement Motivation Theory Specialist, College of Education, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
| | - Jamie Tully
- Office of Student Health and Wellness, Chicago Public Schools, Chicago, IL
| | - Kimberly Kin
- Kinesiology, Health & Sport Studies, College of Education, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
| | - Elizabeth Hansen
- Office of Student Health and Wellness, Chicago Public Schools, Chicago, IL
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Pulungan AB, Puteri HA, Ratnasari AF, Hoey H, Utari A, Darendeliler F, Al-Zoubi B, Joel D, Valiulis A, Cabana J, Hasanoğlu E, Thacker N, Farmer M. Childhood Obesity as a Global Problem: a Cross-sectional Survey on Global Awareness and National Program Implementation. J Clin Res Pediatr Endocrinol 2024; 16:31-40. [PMID: 37622285 PMCID: PMC10938527 DOI: 10.4274/jcrpe.galenos.2023.2023-7-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective The rising global epidemic of childhood obesity is a major public health challenge. Despite the urgency, there is a lack of data on the awareness and implementation of preventative measures. The aim of this study was to identify areas for improvement in the prevention and management of childhood obesity worldwide. Methods A cross-sectional electronic survey was distributed to 132 members of national pediatric societies of the International Pediatric Association. Results Twenty-eight (21.2%) participants, each from a different country across six World Health Organization (WHO) regions completed the survey. Most participants reported that national prevalence data of childhood obesity is available (78.6%), and the number increased during the Coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic (60.7%). In most countries (78.6%), the amount of sugar and salt in children’s products is provided but only 42.9% enacted regulations on children-targeted advertising. Childhood obesity prevention programs from the government (64.3%) and schools (53.6%) are available with existing support from private or non-profit organizations (71.4%). Participants were aware of WHO’s guidance concerning childhood obesity (78.6%), while fewer were aware of The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund’s (UNICEF) guidance (50%). Participants reported that WHO/UNICEF guidance acted as a reference to develop policies, regulations and national programs. However, progress was hindered by poor compliance. Lastly, participants provided suggestions on tackling obesity, with responses ranging from developing and reinforcing policies, involvement of schools, and prevention across all life stages. Conclusion There are different practices in implementing prevention measures to counter childhood obesity globally, particularly in statutory regulation on food advertising and national programs. While support and awareness was relatively high, implementation was hindered. This reflects the need for prompt, country-specific evaluation and interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aman B. Pulungan
- Universitas Indonesia, Department of Child Health, Jakarta, Indonesia
- International Pediatric Association (IPA), Illinois, USA
- Strategic Advisory Group on Non-Communicable Diseases Term 2021-2023, International Pediatric Association, Illinois, USA
- Indonesian Pediatric Society (IDAI), Jakarta, Indonesia
- NCD Child, Toronto, Canada
| | | | | | - Hilary Hoey
- Strategic Advisory Group on Non-Communicable Diseases Term 2021-2023, International Pediatric Association, Illinois, USA
- Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland
- University of Dublin Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
- European Paediatric Association/Union of National European Paediatric Societies (EPA/UNEPSA), Berlin, Germany
| | - Agustini Utari
- Strategic Advisory Group on Non-Communicable Diseases Term 2021-2023, International Pediatric Association, Illinois, USA
- Indonesian Pediatric Society (IDAI), Jakarta, Indonesia
- Diponegoro University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Semarang, Indonesia
| | - Feyza Darendeliler
- Strategic Advisory Group on Non-Communicable Diseases Term 2021-2023, International Pediatric Association, Illinois, USA
- İstanbul University, İstanbul Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Endocrinology, İstanbul, Turkey
- Turkish National Pediatrics Association, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Basim Al-Zoubi
- Strategic Advisory Group on Non-Communicable Diseases Term 2021-2023, International Pediatric Association, Illinois, USA
- Prince Hamzah Hospital, Amman, Jordan
- Jordan Pediatric Society, Amman, Jordan
| | - Dipesalema Joel
- Strategic Advisory Group on Non-Communicable Diseases Term 2021-2023, International Pediatric Association, Illinois, USA
- University of Botswana Faculty of Medicine, Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Health, Gaborone, Botswana
- Union of National African Paediatric Societies and Associations (UNAPSA), Côte d’Ivoire, Africa
- Botswana Paediatric Association, Botswana, Africa
| | - Arunas Valiulis
- Strategic Advisory Group on Non-Communicable Diseases Term 2021-2023, International Pediatric Association, Illinois, USA
- Vilnius University Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Clinic of Children’s Diseases, Vilnius, Lithuania
- Lithuanian Paediatric Society, Vilnius, Lithuania
- European Academy of Paediatrics (EAP/UEMS-SP), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jorge Cabana
- Strategic Advisory Group on Non-Communicable Diseases Term 2021-2023, International Pediatric Association, Illinois, USA
- Argentine Society of Pediatrics, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Latin American Association of Pediatrics (ALAPE), Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Enver Hasanoğlu
- International Pediatric Association (IPA), Illinois, USA
- Turkish National Pediatric Society, Ankara, Turkey
- Gazi University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Naveen Thacker
- International Pediatric Association (IPA), Illinois, USA
- Director Deep Children Hospital and Research Centre, Gandhidham, India
| | - Mychelle Farmer
- Strategic Advisory Group on Non-Communicable Diseases Term 2021-2023, International Pediatric Association, Illinois, USA
- Advancing Synergy, Baltimore, USA
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St. Pierre C, Mitchell J, Guan W, Sacheck JM. Promoting physical activity and youth development in schools: the case for near-peer coaches. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1345282. [PMID: 38525329 PMCID: PMC10957741 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1345282] [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: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Sports-based youth development (SBYD) programs provide an inclusive, supportive environment for promoting physical activity as well as nurturing the development of life skills which, in combination, promote physical, mental, and emotional health in youth. The Up2Us Sports SBYD program was implemented in six schools in New Orleans, Louisiana in 2020-2022, where near-peer coaches from the community were placed in schools and present throughout the school day. The intervention period straddled the COVID-19 pandemic as well as extreme weather events, modifying program delivery. Process/methods An exploratory case study was conducted to understand participant experience amid program disruptions and modifications, as well as their perceptions of program impact on physical activity and health. Interviews with coaches (n = 7), focus groups with youth (n = 14) and program observation data were triangulated to provide a description of the case. Results The major theme that emerged from the case study was the centrality of the near-peer mentorship relationships between coaches and youth. Participants believed near-peer relationships facilitated life skill development and increased opportunity for physical activity in schools, but pressures on coaches' time and external challenges in the community were limiting factors to the extent of program impact. Conclusion This community case study demonstrates the potential role for near-peer mentors in influencing the health and wellbeing of youth from under-resourced communities and highlights the opportunity for school-based SBYD programming to provide youth with a consistent source of both relational and physical activity support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine St. Pierre
- Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, Washington, DC, United States
| | | | - Win Guan
- Up2Us Sports, New Orleans, LA, United States
- Social Insights Research, LLC, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Jennifer M. Sacheck
- Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health, Washington, DC, United States
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Ferreira SRG, Macotela Y, Velloso LA, Mori MA. Determinants of obesity in Latin America. Nat Metab 2024; 6:409-432. [PMID: 38438626 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-024-00977-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
Obesity rates are increasing almost everywhere in the world, although the pace and timing for this increase differ when populations from developed and developing countries are compared. The sharp and more recent increase in obesity rates in many Latin American countries is an example of that and results from regional characteristics that emerge from interactions between multiple factors. Aware of the complexity of enumerating these factors, we highlight eight main determinants (the physical environment, food exposure, economic and political interest, social inequity, limited access to scientific knowledge, culture, contextual behaviour and genetics) and discuss how they impact obesity rates in Latin American countries. We propose that initiatives aimed at understanding obesity and hampering obesity growth in Latin America should involve multidisciplinary, global approaches that consider these determinants to build more effective public policy and strategies, accounting for regional differences and disease complexity at the individual and systemic levels.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yazmín Macotela
- Instituto de Neurobiología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, UNAM Campus-Juriquilla, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Licio A Velloso
- Obesity and Comorbidities Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Marcelo A Mori
- Institute of Biology, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
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Poulos A, Wilson K, Schulke M, Nam K, Ohri-Vachaspati P, Bai Y, Kulinna PH. A natural experiment to assess recess frequency on children's physical activity in Arizona (U.S.) elementary schools. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:225. [PMID: 38238751 PMCID: PMC10797942 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-17605-4] [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: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the United States, the number of state policies mandating recess in schools has rapidly increased over the past decade; however, few policies specify recess frequency. Informed by an ecological model of physical activity (PA) policy, this study examined and compared total amounts and intensity of PA expended during recess among children attending schools in compliance with Arizona recess policy ARS§ 15-118 mandating 2 + daily recess periods versus not. METHODS PA during recess was measured among grade three children (ages 8-10) in four randomly selected elementary schools (two complying averaging 30 daily recess minutes; two non-complying averaging 15 daily recess minutes) in Maricopa County, Arizona. Group-level PA was assessed by direct observation using the System for Observing Play and Leisure (137 observations). A subset of students (N = 134) from all schools wore ActiGraph GT3X + devices during recess to measure individual PA. General linear mixed effects models were used to analyze the impact of recess frequency on group and individual PA during recess. RESULTS Students attending complying schools spent significantly greater proportions of time in moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) based on direct observation (5%) and accelerometry (15%) and less time being sedentary based on accelerometry (14%) during recess. Across the school day, this would equate to 5.1 more MVPA minutes based on systematic direct observation and 9.5 more MVPA minutes based on accelerometry, and 4.1 less minutes being sedentary based on accelerometry if students received two daily 15-minute recess periods compared to one. CONCLUSIONS Students attending elementary schools implementing 2 + recesses, in accordance with state policy, demonstrated greater MVPA and less sedentary time, providing preliminary evidence that recess frequency is associated with greater PA intensity among children during recess. Schools that adhere to state-level PA policies may provide a more supportive environment for PA, resulting in increased movement among students. Specifying recess frequency should be considered in statewide recess policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison Poulos
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, ABC 222 425 North 5th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA.
| | - Kylie Wilson
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, ABC 222 425 North 5th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA
| | - Marissa Schulke
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, ABC 222 425 North 5th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA
| | - Kahyun Nam
- Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 85281, USA
| | - Punam Ohri-Vachaspati
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, ABC 222 425 North 5th Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA
| | - Yang Bai
- Department of Health and Kinesiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
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Yan J, Morgan PJ, Smith JJ, Chen S, Leahy AA, Eather N. Pilot randomized controlled trial of a game-based intervention for teaching basketball in Chinese primary school physical education. J Sports Sci 2024; 42:25-37. [PMID: 38381852 DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2024.2319457] [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: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
This study aimed to examine the preliminary efficacy and feasibility of implementing a tailored version of the MASTER coach education programme in Chinese primary schools to support physical education (PE) teachers' basketball lesson design and delivery. A total of 20 primary schools in Beijing, China were recruited, with one PE teacher and their class (N = 715 students aged 10-13 yrs) from each school included in the study and randomly allocated to the MASTER intervention (n = 10) or control group (n = 10). Compared to the control group, a significant difference was observed in the MASTER group for the proportion of playing-form activities delivered during PE (27.65, 95% CI [20.27, 35.03]) and for teachers' perceptions of confidence (23.92, 95% CI [15.87, 31.92]) and competence (24.12, 95% CI [10.28, 24.71]) to teach. Significant differences between groups were observed for students' perceived athletic competence (3.56%; 95% CI [3.15, 3.96]), enjoyment (11.83%; 95% CI [10.98, 12.69]), well-being (8.51%; 95% CI [7.02, 10.00]), intrinsic motivation (+0.74%; 95% CI [0.30, 1.17]), introjected motivation (-2.24%; 95% CI [-2.77, -1.70]), and external motivation (-0.49%; 95% CI [-0.90, -0.08]). The MASTER programme was effective in improving teaching practices in Chinese primary schools, and in facilitating improvements in teacher and student outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Yan
- Centre for Active Living and Learning, College of Human and Social Futures, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Philip J Morgan
- Centre for Active Living and Learning, College of Human and Social Futures, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Jordan J Smith
- Centre for Active Living and Learning, College of Human and Social Futures, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Sitong Chen
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
- School of Physical Education, Shanghai University of Sport, Shanghai, China
| | - Angus A Leahy
- Centre for Active Living and Learning, College of Human and Social Futures, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Narelle Eather
- Centre for Active Living and Learning, College of Human and Social Futures, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
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Rongen FC, Coosje Dijkstra S, Hupkens TH, Vingerhoeds MH, Seidell JC, van Kleef E. A qualitative study exploring the perceptions of children, parents and school staff towards the development and implementation of school lunch provision within primary schools in the Netherlands. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:2367. [PMID: 38030987 PMCID: PMC10687776 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-17265-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is no tradition of serving school lunches in primary schools in the Netherlands. Most children tend to bring their own packed lunch, however these are often nutritionally suboptimal. While school lunch provision can aid healthy eating behavior amongst children, its introduction would constitute a profound change for children, parents and school staff. Therefore, this qualitative study aims to explore children's, parents and school staffs' perceptions of both the current lunch situation and the implementation of school lunch provision within primary schools in the Netherlands. METHODS In this qualitative study we conducted nine interviews with school principals, 98 interviews with children, and held six focus groups with teachers and six with parents at primary schools in two Dutch cities. The data was analysed via iterative coding. RESULTS The results showed that most children and parents are satisfied with the current lunch situation, although existing school food policies are not always put in place. Most teachers felt that children had insufficient time to consume their lunch in the current situation. The children were generally positive about the idea of a school lunch, and stressed that it was important to have the ability to choose. While both parents and school staff saw school lunch provision as an opportunity to educate families about healthy food options, they also expressed concern about who would be responsible, as well as the financial and organizational implications of its introduction. CONCLUSIONS Perceptions of children, parents and school staff about a school provided lunch are mixed. A complex intervention such as a new school lunch program is difficult to envisage for all parties involved and more research is needed regarding the effects, organization, logistics and the costs of school lunch provision in the Netherlands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédérique C Rongen
- Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health research institute, de Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - S Coosje Dijkstra
- Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health research institute, de Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
- Amsterdam UMC, location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Public and Occupational Health, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
| | - Tobie H Hupkens
- Food Health & Consumer Research, Wageningen Food & Biobased Research, P.O. Box 17, Wageningen, 6700AA, Netherlands
| | - Monique H Vingerhoeds
- Food Health & Consumer Research, Wageningen Food & Biobased Research, P.O. Box 17, Wageningen, 6700AA, Netherlands
| | - Jacob C Seidell
- Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health research institute, de Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Ellen van Kleef
- Marketing and Consumer Behaviour Group, Wageningen University, Hollandseweg 1, Wageningen, 6706 KN, Netherlands
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Binsaeed B, Aljohani FG, Alsobiai FF, Alraddadi M, Alrehaili AA, Alnahdi BS, Almotairi FS, Jumah MA, Alrehaili AT. Barriers and Motivators to Weight Loss in People With Obesity. Cureus 2023; 15:e49040. [PMID: 38116343 PMCID: PMC10729542 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.49040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Obesity has become a global public health challenge with associated health risks. Effective weight-loss interventions are crucial to mitigating these risks and improving overall well-being. However, individuals with obesity often encounter various barriers that hinder their weight loss efforts, while specific motivators can drive them towards successful outcomes. This systematic review aimed to explore the barriers and motivators to weight loss in people with obesity. METHODS A literature search was conducted using relevant keywords in electronic databases such as PubMed, Medline, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar. Studies published in peer-reviewed journals during the last 10 years were considered for inclusion. We included studies investigating both barriers and/or motivators to weight loss published in English. RESULTS The findings showed that motivators for weight loss include health concerns, body satisfaction, family support, normalcy restoration, emotional encouragement, self-determination, and mindful food choices. Motivators involve exercise facilities, balanced diets, and assistance from healthcare providers, peers, friends, or family. Gender influences healthcare providers' influence on weight loss, with women trusting providers more while men lean towards medication options. Healthcare providers play a role in impacting weight loss through discussions and educating patients. Age also influences motivators; adolescents emphasize health, self-esteem, and bullying avoidance, while young women focus on lifestyle influence, resources, and joy. Barriers include insufficient self-control, physical pain, time constraints, dietary restrictions, and a lack of support. Logistical issues, patient readiness, healthcare providers' views, resource scarcity, and social dynamics are also barriers. Dietary barriers involve triggers, emotional states, and limited healthy options. School-aged children with obesity face curriculum challenges and resource scarcity. CONCLUSION These findings show the intricate interplay between motivators and barriers, underscoring the multifaceted nature of weight loss in people with obesity. Targeted interventions that address these factors holistically are essential for successful weight management.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Alya A Alrehaili
- College of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University Faculty of Medicine, Jeddah, SAU
| | - Bushra S Alnahdi
- College of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University Faculty of Medicine, Jeddah, SAU
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Donnelly S, Buchan DS, McLellan G, Roberts R, Arthur R. Exploring the feasibility of a cluster pilot randomised control trial to improve children's 24-hour movement behaviours and dietary intake: Happy homework. J Sports Sci 2023; 41:1787-1800. [PMID: 38219248 DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2023.2300562] [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: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
We aimed to explore the feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of Happy Homework (HH); an 8-week home-focussed intervention, with the purpose of encouraging children's positive dietary behaviours and engagement in positive physical activity (PA) and sleep behaviours. We randomised four Scottish schools (n = 71 participants; 5 classrooms) to either the HH intervention (n = 2) or usual curriculum control group (n = 2). HH consisted of movement and dietary-focused parent and child tasks. Primary outcome measures were intervention feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy. Secondary outcomes were objectively measured PA via ActiGraph GT3X+, sedentary behaviours (SBs) and sleep duration via activPAL4™ accelerometers and dietary behaviours, fruit and vegetable consumption and screen-time via questionnaires. After controlling for pre-test levels, post intervention stepping time and sleep duration were significantly greater for the HH group in comparison to the control group. The HH group reported eating more fruit and vegetables at post-test than the control group. Participants also reported the intervention to be enjoyable and motivating. These findings provide promising evidence that given a greater sample size, better retention and the prioritisation of health and wellbeing homework, HH could enhance children's health and wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Donnelly
- School of Health and Life Science, University of the West of Scotland, South Lanarkshire, UK
| | - Duncan S Buchan
- School of Health and Life Science, University of the West of Scotland, South Lanarkshire, UK
| | - Gillian McLellan
- School of Health and Life Science, University of the West of Scotland, South Lanarkshire, UK
| | - Ross Roberts
- Institute for the Psychology of Elite Performance, School of Human and Behavioural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, UK
| | - Rosie Arthur
- School of Health and Life Science, University of the West of Scotland, South Lanarkshire, UK
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13
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Clark SGF, Mendes LL, Honório OS, Oliveira JS, Canuto R. Social inequities in the food retail patterns around schools in Recife, Brazil. CIENCIA & SAUDE COLETIVA 2023; 28:2665-2675. [PMID: 37672455 DOI: 10.1590/1413-81232023289.15882022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to describe the community food environment surrounding schools and its association with territorial socio-environmental vulnerability in the city with the highest intraurban social inequity index in Brazil. METHODS this ecological observational study includes data on the presence and type of food retail in a 400 m buffer surrounding public and private schools in Recife. We have also described the Health Vulnerability Index (HVI) of census tracts and conducted multivariate analyses. RESULTS through factor analysis, we observed two grouping patterns of food retail. The "diverse food outlets" pattern was positively associated with middle HVI (β 0.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] - 0.11; 0.16) and higher HVI areas (β 0.15, 95%CI - 0.11; 0.17), while "the large food retail chains" pattern was inversely associated with middle HVI (β -0.42, 95% CI - 0.53; -0.30) and high HVI areas (β -0.32, 95%CI - 0.45; -0.18) and positively associated with private schools (β 0.15, 95%CI - 0.030; 0.27). CONCLUSION the greatest variety in food retail is in high HVI areas, and large food retail chains prevail around private schools, especially in low HVI areas.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Juliana Souza Oliveira
- Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. Av. Professor Moraes Rego 1.235. 50670-901 Recife PR Brasil.
| | - Raquel Canuto
- Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. Av. Professor Moraes Rego 1.235. 50670-901 Recife PR Brasil.
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Porto Alegre RS Brasil
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14
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Blaychfeld Magnazi M, Gesser-Edelsburg A, Itzhaky Y, Endevelt R, Fliss Isakov N. Children in the Anthroposophical Education System Have Lower Rates of Obesity, and Higher Rates of Health Promoting Behaviors. Nutrients 2023; 15:3088. [PMID: 37513506 PMCID: PMC10386373 DOI: 10.3390/nu15143088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The anthroposophical philosophy is a holistic educational and lifestyle approach. Limited information exists on the health-promoting behavioral norms and obesity rates among children living anthroposophical vs. conventional lifestyles. AIMS This study aims to compare the prevalence of childhood obesity, and parents' perceptions of their children's food environment, between anthroposophical and conventional education systems. METHODS We performed a cross-sectional analysis of the National Anthropometric Measurement Survey for first grade students in Israel, comparing anthroposophical schools with matched conventional schools. Additionally, an online survey was distributed among parents of children in both school systems, assessing children's eating norms and dietary intake. RESULTS Overweight and obesity rates were higher among students in conventional schools (n = 205,500) compared to anthroposophical schools (n = 2247) (11.2% vs. 9.6%, and 7.8% vs. 4.8%, respectively; Pv < 0.001). Anthroposophical schools were perceived by more parents to have health-promoting curricula, health promoting teacher behavior, and health promoting social dietary norms, while their children's dietary intake was perceived as healthier both in school and in the after-school, social, and familial environment (Pv < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Children in anthroposophical education exhibited lower overweight and obesity rates, and engaged in more health-promoting behaviors. Further research is needed to explore the relationship between the anthroposophical lifestyle and childhood obesity, and to identify effective anthroposophical strategies for health promotion among children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moran Blaychfeld Magnazi
- Nutrition Division, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem 9101002, Israel
- School of Public Health, the Health and Risk Communication Laboratory, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Anat Gesser-Edelsburg
- School of Public Health, the Health and Risk Communication Laboratory, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Yafit Itzhaky
- Department of Public Health Nursing, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem 9101002, Israel
| | - Ronit Endevelt
- Nutrition Division, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem 9101002, Israel
- School of Public Health, the Health and Risk Communication Laboratory, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Naomi Fliss Isakov
- Nutrition Division, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem 9101002, Israel
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
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15
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Gell S, Pejkovic E, Heiss R. How (Un-)Healthy are Austrian school food environments? Evidence from focus groups and citizen science. Appetite 2023:106636. [PMID: 37390919 DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2023.106636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adolescents face high-choice school food environments that offer plenty of highly processed foods. Processed food producers target young people in their marketing, but there is limited data on the actual food supply inside and in the vicinity of Austrian schools and its impact on adolescent food choices. This study employs an innovative mixed-methods approach to explore adolescents' food choices. METHODS In Study 1, we conducted a citizen science study, with students as volunteer scientists. The students examined the food supply in and around their schools according to the Austrian food pyramid and categorized 953 food items in 144 food suppliers using photographs and descriptions. In Study 2, we explored students' food preferences in focus groups. We conducted four focus groups at four different schools in Tyrol, with 25 students (11 male, 14 female) between the ages of 12 and 15. We then linked the findings on individual preferences with the documented supply. RESULTS Study 1 found that the food supply in the investigated schools was predominantly categorized as unhealthy. The students categorized 46% as "unhealthy", 32% as "intermediate", and only 22% as "healthy". Study 2 identified three influential factors in students' food choices: 1) individual factors (such as taste and preferences), 2) social factors (such as mingling with peers), and 3) structural factors (such as physical environment and accessibility). CONCLUSION The study shows that unhealthy products cater to unhealthy preferences among adolescents and dominate current school food environments. Policies need to address unhealthy school food environments to address this issue. For instance, food supplies should be presented in an attractive ways, in fun places where students can mingle and express their identities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sascha Gell
- MCI | The Entrepreneurial School©, Center for Social & Health Innovation Universitätsstraße 15, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Emina Pejkovic
- MCI | The Entrepreneurial School©, Center for Social & Health Innovation Universitätsstraße 15, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Raffael Heiss
- MCI | The Entrepreneurial School©, Center for Social & Health Innovation Universitätsstraße 15, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
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16
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Aldowah O, Assiry AA, Mujallid NF, Ashi FN, Abduljawad F, Al-Zahrani MM, Ezzaddin R, Karobari MI. Assessment of oral health knowledge, literacy, and attitude among schoolteachers towards oral health - A cross-sectional study. BMC Oral Health 2023; 23:392. [PMID: 37316846 DOI: 10.1186/s12903-023-03012-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To accomplish the purpose of health education and health promotion programs, schools are the most effective place for delivering health information to children. The main purpose of our research was to inform, gather evidence and contribute to developing knowledge regarding the OHL, knowledge, and attitude among school teachers towards oral health in Najran region of Saudi Arabia. METHODS A questionnaire-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Najran region of Saudi Arabia for 6 months. A stratified cluster random sampling of 252 teachers was taken to represent all the teachers of Najran region of Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire contains 2 parts, sociodemographic part that include age, gender, education, teaching level, and income of the participants. The second part contains 25 items that assess the OHL (HelD-14 questions), knowledge (6 questions), and attitude (5 questions) of the participants. SPSS software version 26 was used to enter and analyze the data (IBM SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA software version 26.0). Multiple Logistic regression was applied to check the relationship between OHL and the associated factors. The Chi-square test was applied to evaluate knowledge of study participants. The level of significance was set up at p < 0.05. RESULTS A total of 252 school teachers with a Mean age of school teachers 32.25 ± 8.46 participated in the study. The multiple logistic regression model shows the association between age, education, and OHL level of school teachers. After adjustment for sociodemographic factors age (OR = 0.219, 95% CI: 0.058-0.834), education (OR = 9.053, 95% CI: 1.135-72,023) were significantly associated with OHL of school teachers. Female participants showed better performance with respect to all the knowledge questions, a significantly higher level of knowledge (p-value < 0.05) was reported with all the questions except the second question (dental plaques causes). 94.8% of teachers agreed that children's teeth should be checked by a dentist on a regular basis, while 96.8% agreed that dental health education should be included in the primary school curriculum and that all teachers should receive dental health education training. CONCLUSION Overall, school teachers have high oral health literacy, adequate knowledge, and a positive attitude toward oral health. The female teachers had more knowledge about dentistry than their male counterparts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omir Aldowah
- Faculty of Dentistry, Najran University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Najran, 11001, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Ali A Assiry
- Faculty of Dentistry, Najran University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Najran, 11001, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
| | - Nizar F Mujallid
- Pediatric Dentistry Department, King Fahad General Hospital, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Farid N Ashi
- Resident Dentist, Ministry of Health, Jeddah region, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Faisal Abduljawad
- Resident Dentist, Ministry of Health, Jeddah region, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Minna M Al-Zahrani
- Resident Dentist, BDC, Ministry of Health, Jeddah region, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Mohmed Isaqali Karobari
- Department of Conservative Dentistry & Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Puthisastra, Phnom Penh, 12211, Cambodia.
- Center for Transdisciplinary Research, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Science, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha University, Chennai, India.
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17
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Richardson AS, Nugroho A, Dubowitz T, Schultz D, Martin CK. Students' consumption of high and low nutrition foods and reduced plate waste by schools' wellness-related policies and garden program participation. J Hum Nutr Diet 2023; 36:864-874. [PMID: 36890709 PMCID: PMC10853945 DOI: 10.1111/jhn.13167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Participation in school-based programs that may support children's nutritious dietary behaviours varies across schools. We examined school participation in wellness-related policies, school-based garden programs and students' dietary behaviours. METHODS Among matching schools who did and did not participate in school-based garden programs, we analysed the lunches of 80 Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS) students in 1st, 2nd, 6th and 7th grades during Autumn 2019 using digital food photography. We also acquired school wellness policy data. Using cross-sectional linear regression, we estimated the association between school-based garden programming, wellness-related policies and dietary outcomes, adjusting for grade. RESULTS School's implementation of nutrition services policies was negatively associated with energy wasted from lunch (β = - 44.7 , p = 0.01 ${\rm{\beta }}=-44.7,{p}=0.01$ ). The number of semesters the students' school had participated in the garden program was positively associated with students' whole grain consumption (β = 0.07 , p < 0.001 ${\rm{\beta }}=0.07,{p}\lt 0.001$ ). CONCLUSIONS Cross-sectional associations suggest that schools that are more engaged in wellness policies and garden programs may provide environments that are more supportive of students' nutrition than in other schools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea S Richardson
- Department of Behavioral and Policy Sciences, RAND Corporation, Pittsburgh, PN, USA
| | - Alvin Nugroho
- Department of Behavioral and Policy Sciences, RAND Corporation, Pittsburgh, PN, USA
| | - Tamara Dubowitz
- Department of Behavioral and Policy Sciences, RAND Corporation, Pittsburgh, PN, USA
| | - Dana Schultz
- Department of Behavioral and Policy Sciences, RAND Corporation, Pittsburgh, PN, USA
| | - Corby K Martin
- Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
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18
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Patra E, Kokkinopoulou A, Pagkalos I. Focus of Sustainable Healthy Diets Interventions in Primary School-Aged Children: A Systematic Review. Nutrients 2023; 15:nu15112460. [PMID: 37299423 DOI: 10.3390/nu15112460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Research and public policy interest regarding Sustainable Healthy Diets (SHDs) have increased during the last decades, as nutrition recommendations and diet practices should align with growing environmental concerns. SHDs encompass sociocultural, economic and environmental components of nutrition and health and raising awareness across all these dimensions, as well as providing relevant education, especially to young children, is important for adopting SHD practices. Primary school students (5-12 years old) are often the target population for interventions, as they are considered agents of change for educating the community. The objective of this systematic review is to map the SHD indicators addressed by such interventions in order to identify gaps and opportunities for future interventions in this population. Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science were searched for available publications, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA 2020) methodology. After screening for eligibility, thirteen intervention studies were included and reviewed. Results showed that indicator definitions and measuring methods were not harmonized across research efforts. Implemented SHD interventions address predominantly food waste and diet quality, while social and economic indicators are underrepresented. The standardization of SHD, focusing on measurable harmonized indicators, should be a priority for policy actors in order to enable impactful research efforts. Future interventions should incorporate clear SHD indicators to raise awareness and consider the application of composite tools or indexes to evaluate outcomes and maximize impact in the community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Patra
- Nutrition Information Systems Laboratory (NISLAB), Department of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, International Hellenic University, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Anna Kokkinopoulou
- Nutrition Information Systems Laboratory (NISLAB), Department of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, International Hellenic University, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Ioannis Pagkalos
- Nutrition Information Systems Laboratory (NISLAB), Department of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, International Hellenic University, 57001 Thessaloniki, Greece
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19
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Schwartz MB, Chafouleas SM, Koslouski JB. Expanding school wellness policies to encompass the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1143474. [PMID: 37064709 PMCID: PMC10100499 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1143474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Schools influence children’s developmental outcomes across multiple domains, including academic, social, emotional, behavioral, and physical. School district wellness policies are powerful mechanisms that set clear expectations for health-related practices in school buildings and the surrounding community. A current challenge is that many health-related school policies are narrow, siloed, and reactive instead of proactive. In this paper, we: (a) describe how written food, nutrition, and physical activity district and state policies were strengthened in the United States in response to specific concerns about childhood obesity; (b) present how schools have historically addressed policies concerning children’s social, emotional, and behavioral health; and (c) propose using the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model to strengthen the coordination and integration of school wellness policies. We conclude by describing recently developed tools to assist school districts in implementing the WSCC model. The Wellness School Assessment Tool (WellSAT) WSCC is a quantitative measure that districts can use to code their current written policies for alignment with the WSCC model. The WSCC Policy and Practice Blueprints are action planning tools that lead school and district leaders through a series of activities to strengthen the implementation of coordinated and integrated policies and practices. By using the WSCC model and accompanying implementation tools, schools can support the development of the whole child.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlene B. Schwartz
- Rudd Center for Food Policy and Health, Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Connecticut, Hartford, CT, United States
- *Correspondence: Marlene B. Schwartz,
| | - Sandra M. Chafouleas
- Collaboratory on School and Child Health, Neag School of Education, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
| | - Jessica B. Koslouski
- Collaboratory on School and Child Health, Neag School of Education, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
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20
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Sanmarchi F, Masini A, Poli C, Kawalec A, Esposito F, Scrimaglia S, Scheier LM, Dallolio L, Sacchetti R. Cross-Sectional Analysis of Family Factors Associated with Lifestyle Habits in a Sample of Italian Primary School Children: The I-MOVE Project. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:4240. [PMID: 36901251 PMCID: PMC10002146 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20054240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The acquisition of healthy dietary and exercise habits during childhood is essential for maintaining these behaviors during adulthood. In early childhood, parents have a profound influence on a child's lifestyle pursuits, serving as both role models and decision-makers. The present study examines family factors as potential contributors to healthy lifestyle habits and their child's overall diet quality among a sample of primary school children. A secondary aim is to evaluate several aspects of diet quality using the Mediterranean adaptation of the Diet Quality Index-International (DQI-I). This cross-sectional study involved 106 children enrolled in a primary school located in Imola, Italy. Data were collected from October to December 2019 using an interactive tool used to assess parent characteristics, children's lifestyle, food frequency (ZOOM-8 questionnaire), and actigraph accelerometers to capture children's physical activity and sedentary behavior. Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (expressed by KIDMED Index) was positively associated with fathers' educational level, parental sport participation, and the parent's overall nutritional knowledge. Higher mothers' educational level was inversely associated with children's leisure screen time. Parents' nutritional knowledge was positively related to children's average daily minutes of organized sport activities. The better score for DQI-I was for consumption adequacy, followed by variety and moderation. The lowest score was for overall balance. The present study reinforces the importance of family factors in young children's lifestyle choices, particularly their dietary, leisure time, and exercise habits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Sanmarchi
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Science, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Alice Masini
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Science, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Carolina Poli
- Department of Medical and Surgical Science, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Anna Kawalec
- Department and Clinic of Paediatric Nephrology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-556 Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Francesco Esposito
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Science, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Susan Scrimaglia
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Science, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Lawrence M. Scheier
- LARS Research Institute, Inc., Sun City, AZ 85351, USA
- Prevention Strategies, Greensboro, NC 27410, USA
| | - Laura Dallolio
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Science, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Rossella Sacchetti
- Department of Education Studies “Giovanni Maria Bertin”, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
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21
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Improving adolescents' dietary behaviours in the school-setting: challenges and opportunities. Proc Nutr Soc 2023:1-14. [PMID: 36916515 DOI: 10.1017/s0029665123002197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
Adolescence is a critical time of physical, psychological and social development, and thus, optimal nutritional intakes are required during this life stage. Despite this, adolescence is recognised as a period of nutritional vulnerability, with many reportedly failing to meet current dietary guidelines. The school-setting presents a favourable environment to intervene and promote positive dietary behaviours and is also inclusive regardless of socio-economic status. However, a lack of consensus exists on how best to utilise schools to facilitate improvements in dietary behaviours among this age group. Whilst previous research has focused on identifying the factors motivating dietary choices within the school-setting, less is known on the optimum strategies to enhance these dietary choices which could positively contribute to the design of future interventions. It is reported that adolescents have good nutritional knowledge, although this does not appear to be a central consideration when making their dietary choices. Alternative factors at the individual (taste, visual appeal, familiarity, food quality, price, portion size, value for money, time/ convenience), social (peer influence), physical (product placement) and macro environment (food availability) levels have been frequently cited as important influences on adolescents' dietary choices in school. Although school-based interventions have shown potential in achieving positive dietary change among adolescents, more research is needed to determine the most effective methods in improving dietary behaviours in schools. This review summarises the key factors which influence adolescents' school-based dietary choices and the effectiveness of previously conducted interventions, identifying promising components for consideration when developing future dietary interventions within the school-setting.
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22
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Robinson A, Jongenelis MI, Morley B, Talati Z. Exploring grandparents' receptivity to and preferences for a grandchild nutrition-focused intervention: A qualitative study. Aust N Z J Public Health 2023; 47:100001. [PMID: 36669246 DOI: 10.1016/j.anzjph.2022.100001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Interventions promoting healthy eating in children typically overlook the critical role of grandparent caregivers. Utilising a co-design approach, this study (i) assessed the receptiveness of grandparents to a nutrition-focused resource aimed at promoting healthy eating in their grandchildren and (ii) explored grandparents' preferences for resource delivery and dissemination. METHODS Seventy-nine grandparents (58% female; mean age=69.37 years) who were secondary carers to a grandchild aged 3-12 years participated in one of 10 focus groups. Focus group transcripts were imported into NVivo for coding and semantic thematic analysis. RESULTS The vast majority of focus groups (n=9) were receptive to receiving a nutrition-focused resource. Participants indicated that such a resource should contain strategies that help grandparents promote healthy eating in their grandchildren rather than outline what grandchildren should be fed. A range of delivery (pamphlets, seminars and fridge magnets) and dissemination (online, email) methods were suggested. CONCLUSIONS A nutrition resource that equips grandparents with the strategies they need to promote healthy eating in their grandchildren would likely be welcomed. IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH Results provide program developers with the preliminary information required to tailor childhood lifestyle interventions to the needs of grandparents, thus helping increase acceptability and uptake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abby Robinson
- Melbourne Centre for Behaviour Change, Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Michelle I Jongenelis
- Melbourne Centre for Behaviour Change, Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia.
| | - Belinda Morley
- Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer, Cancer Council Victoria, 615 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia
| | - Zenobia Talati
- School of Population Health, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia, 6102, Australia
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23
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Friday PJ, Beemer LR, Martindale D, Wassmann A, Eisman AB, Templin T, Zernicke RF, Malinoff L, Schwartz A, Ajibewa TA, Marenus MW, Hasson RE. A Novel Policy Alignment and Enhancement Process to Improve Sustainment of School-Based Physical Activity Programming. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:ijerph20031791. [PMID: 36767157 PMCID: PMC9914935 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20031791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of the current study was twofold: (1) to evaluate the strength and comprehensiveness of district wellness policies in one central Michigan intermediate school district (ISD; 16 districts), and (2) to pilot a novel policy alignment and enhancement process in one district within the ISD to improve sustainment of district-wide physical activity (PA) programming. Policy evaluation and alignment were determined using WellSAT 3.0. The Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment (EPIS) framework was used to guide a seven-step policy alignment and enhancement process. Initial evaluation of the PA policy for the ISD revealed a strength score of 19/100 (i.e., included weak and non-specific language) and 31/100 for comprehensiveness (i.e., mentioned few components of the Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program). For the pilot school district, initial strength scores were 19/100 and 38/100 for comprehensiveness (exploration). An alignment of the tailored PA policy with current practices resulted in a 100% increase in strength (score of 38/100), and 132% increase in comprehensiveness (score of 88/100; preparation). However, district administrators encountered barriers to adopting the tailored policy and subsequently integrated the PA requirements into their curriculum guide and school improvement plan (implementation and sustainment). Future research should examine the effectiveness of our EPIS-informed policy evaluation, alignment, and enhancement process to promote widespread increases in student PA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lexie R. Beemer
- School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | | | - Amy Wassmann
- Saginaw Intermediate School District, Saginaw, MI 48603, USA
| | - Andria B. Eisman
- Division of Kinesiology, Health and Sport Studies, College of Education, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
- Center for Health and Community Impact, College of Education, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
| | - Thomas Templin
- School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Ronald F. Zernicke
- School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
- Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Lynn Malinoff
- Institute for the Study of Children, Families, and Communities, Eastern Michigan University, Ypsilanti, MI 48197, USA
| | - Anna Schwartz
- School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | | | | | - Rebecca E. Hasson
- School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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Bean MK, Raynor HA, Thornton LM, de Jonge L, Mazzeo SE. Design and rationale for evaluating the impact of salad bars on elementary school students' fruit, vegetable, and energy intake: a wait list control, cluster randomized controlled trial. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:2304. [PMID: 36494649 PMCID: PMC9733053 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14744-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Most children do not consume the recommended amount of fruit and vegetable (FV) servings. Changing the school food environment can be a cost-efficient, effective approach to improving children's dietary quality. There is great popular support for school salad bars as a means to increase children's FV intake within the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), yet empirical research is limited. Further, although FV consumption can facilitate healthy weight management if these foods replace high calorie items, there is a need to enhance understanding of salad bars' influence on children's diet quality and energy intake within the NSLP. This is particularly important to investigate in schools in communities characterized by high poverty, as students they serve are particularly likely to rely on school meals. METHODS This report describes the design and rationale of a federally-funded investigation that uses validated methods to evaluate school salad bars. This district plans to install salad bars into 141 elementary schools over 5-years, facilitating the conduct of a waitlist control, cluster randomized controlled trial. Specifically, 12 pairs of matched schools will be randomly selected: half receiving a salad bar (Intervention) and half serving pre-portioned FVs only, standard under the NSLP (Control). Thus, groups will have different FV presentation methods; however, all schools will operate under a policy requiring students to take at least one FV serving. Schools will be matched on Title I status and percent of racial/ethnic minoritized students. Intake will be objectively assessed at lunch in each school pair, prior to (baseline), and 4-6 weeks after salad bars are installed (post), yielding ~ 14,160 lunch observations throughout the study duration. Cafeteria sales and NSLP participation data will be obtained to determine how salad bars impact revenues. Finally, implementation factors and cafeteria personnel's perspectives will be assessed, to identify barriers and facilitators to salad bars use and inform sustainability efforts. Proposed methods and current status of this investigation due to COVID-19 are described. DISCUSSION Results will have great potential to inform school nutrition policies and programs designed to improve dietary quality and reduce obesity. TRIAL REGISTRATION Retrospectively registered (10/28/22) in clinicaltrials.gov (NCT05605483).
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie K. Bean
- grid.224260.00000 0004 0458 8737Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University, Box 980140, Richmond, VA 23298 USA
| | - Hollie A. Raynor
- grid.411461.70000 0001 2315 1184Department of Nutrition, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 1215 W. Cumberland Ave, Knoxville, TN 37996 USA
| | - Laura M. Thornton
- grid.410711.20000 0001 1034 1720Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 USA
| | - Lilian de Jonge
- Department of Nutrition and Food Studies, 10349 Democracy Ln, Suite 306, Fairfax, VA 22030 USA
| | - Suzanne E. Mazzeo
- grid.224260.00000 0004 0458 8737Department of Psychology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Box 842018, Richmond, VA 23284 USA
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Kahan D, Poulos A. Models of school recess for combatting overweight in the United States. Prev Med Rep 2022; 31:102081. [PMID: 36820369 PMCID: PMC9938318 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2022.102081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives The aim of the study was to quantify and compare potential energy expenditure associated with school recess in the U.S. based on four scenarios: professional recommendations and state policies for the conduct of recess, previous studies that measured physical activity intensity during recess (i.e., reality), and no daily recess. Methods Estimated energy expenditure (kcal) was modeled using secondary data over six years of elementary school for boys and girls using a standard formula: Intensity × duration × frequency × mass . Results Boys and girls would expend similar energy under the professional recommendation (boys, 69,146 kcal; girls, 63,993 kcal) and state policy (boys, 69,532 kcal; girls, 64,351 kcal) scenarios. These values are significantly greater than a no recess scenario (boys, 26,974 kcal; girls, 24,821 kcal). The greatest energy expenditure was found for the reality scenario, based on actual studies that measured physical activity intensity (boys, 82,208 kcal; girls, 75,628 kcal). Conclusions Professional recommendations and state policies for recess duration may be overly conservative and recommendations for percentage of MVPA may be overly liberal compared to the reality of energy expended during recess. Both potential and real estimates dwarf a scenario of withholding recess (i.e., no recess), which is discouraged in only six state policies. Mandated reporting with "groundtruthing" is needed to determine true recess frequency/duration and state policy compliance.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Kahan
- Spadoni College of Education and Social Sciences, Coastal Carolina University, Conway, SC, USA,Corresponding author at: Spadoni College of Education and Social Sciences, Coastal Carolina University, P.O. Box 261954, Conway, SC, USA.
| | - Allison Poulos
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USA
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Almutairi N, Burns S, Portsmouth L. Barriers and enablers to the implementation of school-based obesity prevention strategies in Jeddah, KSA. Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being 2022; 17:2135197. [PMID: 36263729 PMCID: PMC9590444 DOI: 10.1080/17482631.2022.2135197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Despite schools' recognised role in mitigating childhood overweight, many schools fail to implement physical activity or nutrition strategies. The current study explored
the enablers and barriers to implementing obesity prevention strategies in
Jeddah, KSA. Methods This research is based on 14 semi-structured interviews with intermediate school principals and sports teachers to gain insight into their perception of barriers and enablers to implementing obesity prevention strategies. Themes were deductively generated from the data. Results Participants estimated the prevalence of overweight and obesity among their students to be between 3 and 15% with an increasing trend, particularly among female students. Participants identified five categories of barriers to implementation of obesity prevention intervention: curriculum; schools strategies promoting healthy weight; lack of resources; student’s lifstyle; and a lack of teachers in nutrition and sports. School regulations, staff and sufficient resources were the most frequently reported enablers. Participants also identified food services, awareness, and partnerships as barriers and enablers. Conclusion There is a need for better infrastructure and financial support for schools and professional development opportunities for teachers from the Saudi Ministry of Education. The Ministry also needs to support the development of multilevel health promotion strategies at school and home and reach out to the broader community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naif Almutairi
- School of Population Health, Curtin University Bentley Campus, Perth, Australia,Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences at Al-Leith, Umm Al-Qura University, Al-Leith, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,CONTACT Naif Almutairi ; School of Population Health, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth6845, Australia
| | - Sharyn Burns
- School of Population Health, Curtin University Bentley Campus, Perth, Australia,Collaboration for Evidence, Research and Impact in Public Health, School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
| | - Linda Portsmouth
- School of Population Health, Curtin University Bentley Campus, Perth, Australia,Collaboration for Evidence, Research and Impact in Public Health, School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
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The Impact of Different Pedagogical Models on Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity in Physical Education Classes. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 9:children9121790. [PMID: 36553234 PMCID: PMC9777447 DOI: 10.3390/children9121790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The aims of this study were twofold: (i) to examine differences in physical activity (PA) variables regarding the length of Physical Education (PE) lessons (45 vs. 90 min) and teaching methodology (Teaching Games for Understanding (TGfU) or hybrid TGfU-sports education (SE)); and (ii) to estimate the percentage of time spent in moderate-to-vigorous (MV) PA assessed via an accelerometer based on total step count, BMI, age, and sex, considering the pedagogical models and the class length. This study was carried out in three classes of invasion games in PE. Two classes were taught based on TGfU (44 students, 18 males, 12.6 ± 0.55), and one was taught based on a hybrid TGfU-SE (17 students, 9 males, 13.7 ± 0.90). The same students were assessed twice, first in a 45 min class and then in a 90 min class. The students' MVPA was assessed using the Actigraph GT3X Activity Monitor. The results revealed significant differences in PA intensity regarding the length of the PE lesson (45 vs. 90 min) and the teaching methodology. The 45 min classes using TGfU were more intense and had less sedentary time than the 90 min classes. When using a hybrid TGfU-SE, the 90 min classes had higher intensities than the 45 min classes. Generally, when comparing the two types of pedagogical intervention, the TGfU model provided more active lessons and less sedentary time in class than a hybrid TGfU-SE. The TGfU model is more profitable for increasing MVPA in class. Due to the issues related to the organization and management of sports practice in class, several recommendations for maximizing MVPA in a hybrid TGfU-SE class must be considered.
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Isbanner S, Carins J, Rundle-Thiele S. Healthy Eats-Evaluation of a Social Marketing Program Delivered in Primary School Settings in Queensland. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:14415. [PMID: 36361286 PMCID: PMC9655208 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192114415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
One in four school children in Australia are overweight or obese. In response, the Healthy Eats program was developed, piloted, and delivered using a whole-of-school approach underpinned by the socio-ecological model to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among children aged 8-10 years in regional Queensland, Australia. This research presents an outcome evaluation of the Healthy Eats program using pre-post data collected throughout 2021 (cross-sectional for knowledge and longitudinal for behaviour) from 19 schools to assess whether changes occurred in students' nutritional knowledge (n = 1868 (pre = 933, post = 935)) and fruit and vegetable consumption (n = 1042 (pre = 521, post = 521)). Knowledge data was collected via self-reports two weeks prior and immediately after the Nutrition Module. Behavioural data on daily fruit and vegetable consumption was gathered via student passports (i.e., surveys) one week before and for four consecutive weeks after the Nutrition Module. Chi-Square Difference tests and t-Tests were conducted with a significance level set at p < 0.05. Across all 19 schools, knowledge of the daily recommended serves of fruit and vegetables improved significantly following participation in the program, aligning knowledge closer to the Australian dietary guidelines. Behavioural results for fruit consumption were favourable, with clear improvements reported. Increases in vegetable consumption were demonstrated in two of the eight schools. A discussion on the knowledge-action gap is provided, including recommendations for future iterations of the Healthy Eats program.
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Design for a cluster randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effects of the CATCH Healthy Smiles school-based oral health promotion intervention among elementary school children. Contemp Clin Trials Commun 2022; 30:101033. [PMID: 36387989 PMCID: PMC9664405 DOI: 10.1016/j.conctc.2022.101033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The top two oral diseases (tooth decay and gum disease) are preventable, yet dental caries is the most common childhood disease with 68% of children entering kindergarten having tooth decay. CATCH Healthy Smiles is a coordinated school health program to prevent cavities for students in kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade, and is based on the framework of Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH), an evidence-based coordinated school health program. CATCH has undergone several cluster-randomized controlled trials (CRCT) demonstrating sustainable long-term effectiveness in incorporating the factors surrounding children, in improving eating and physical activity behaviors, and reductions in obesity prevalence among low-income, ethnically diverse children. The aim of this paper is to describe the design of the CATCH Healthy Smiles CRCT to determine the effectiveness of an oral health school-based behavioral intervention in reducing incidence of dental caries among children. Methods In this CRCT, 30 schools serving low-income, ethnically-diverse children in greater Houston area are recruited and randomized into intervention and comparison groups. From which, 1020 kindergarten children (n = 510 children from 15 schools for each group) will be recruited and followed through 2nd grade. The intervention consists of four components (classroom curriculum, toothbrushing routine, family outreach, and schoolwide coordinated activities) will be implemented for three years in the intervention schools, whereas the control schools will be offered free trainings and materials to implement a sun safety curriculum in the meantime. Outcome evaluation will be conducted at four time points throughout the study period, each consists of three components: dental assessment, child anthropometric measures, and parent survey. The dental assessment will use International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS) to measures the primary outcome of this study: incidence of dental caries in primary teeth as measured at the tooth surface level (dfs). The parent self-report survey measures secondary outcomes of this study, such as oral health related behavioral and psychosocial factors. A modified crude caries increment (mCCI) will be used to calculate the primary outcome of the CATCH Healthy Smiles CRCT, and a two-tailed test of the null hypothesis will be conducted to evaluate the intervention effect, while considering between- and within-cluster variances through computing the weighted-average of the mCCI ratios by cluster. Conclusion If found to be effective, a platform for scalability, sustainability and dissemination of CATCH already exists, and opens a new line of research in school oral health. Clinical trials identifier At ClinicalTrials.gov - NCT04632667.
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Rongen FC, van Kleef E, Vingerhoeds MH, Seidell JC, Dijkstra SC. Content of lunchboxes of Dutch primary school children and their perceptions of alternative healthy school lunch concepts. Public Health Nutr 2022; 26:1-9. [PMID: 36268771 PMCID: PMC9989704 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980022002282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the content of lunchboxes of primary school children and to examine children's support and preferences for alternative healthy school lunch concepts. DESIGN A cross-sectional study among Dutch children from seven primary schools. The content of the lunchboxes was assessed by photographs. Support and preferences for alternative lunch concepts were examined via a self-reported questionnaire. Linear regression analyses were used to investigate the associations between children's support and preferences and sex, educational group and migration background. SETTING The Netherlands. PARTICIPANTS Primary school children. RESULTS A total of 660 children were included (average 9·9 years old). Most lunchboxes contained sandwiches and a drink. Few lunchboxes contained fruit or vegetables. The alternative school lunch concepts elicited mixed support among children. The lunch concepts 'Sandwiches prepared by the children themselves' and a 'hot lunch buffet' had the highest mean support, while the concept 'a healthy lunch brought from home' was the most preferred concept. Small significant differences were observed depending on sex, educational group and migration background. CONCLUSION Lunchboxes of Dutch children contained sandwiches and a drink but rarely fruit and vegetables. Among different alternatives, children reported the highest support for the preparation of their own sandwiches in class or a hot lunch buffet. Future studies should investigate if these alternative lunch concepts improve the dietary intake of children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédérique C Rongen
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, De Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam1081 HV, the Netherlands
| | - Ellen van Kleef
- Marketing and Consumer Behaviour Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Monique H Vingerhoeds
- Food, Health & Consumer Research group, Wageningen Food & Biobased Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Jacob C Seidell
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, De Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam1081 HV, the Netherlands
| | - Sanne Coosje Dijkstra
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, De Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam1081 HV, the Netherlands
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Barcelona J, Centeio E, Phillips S, Gleeson D, Mercier K, Foley J, Simonton K, Garn A. Comprehensive school health: teachers' perceptions and implementation of classroom physical activity breaks in US schools. Health Promot Int 2022; 37:6722651. [PMID: 36166261 DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daac100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Modifications to the social-ecological model, such as Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) frameworks, have been utilized in comprehensive school health interventions. Classroom physical activity breaks are used when implementing whole-of-school approaches. However, the onus to implement classroom physical activity breaks is on school stakeholders. This study aimed to explore teacher and principal perceptions and implementation of physical activity breaks in elementary schools. Further, this study investigated how theoretical factors representative of the social-ecological model and their interactions affect teacher and principal perceptions and utilization of classroom physical activity breaks. Interviews were conducted to understand teacher and principal perceptions and implementation. A total of 12 classroom teachers and five principals participated in semi-structured interviews which were analyzed using constant comparison and deductive analysis to identify relationships and themes coded across the social-ecological and WSCC models. To ensure fidelity individuals that led the professional development (n = 2) were also interviewed. Three main themes emerged as part of the data analysis: (i) The Connection Between Intrapersonal Knowledge and Interpersonal Professional Development, (ii) Resources, Sharing Means Caring and (iii) The Policy Level Creates Time. Teachers and principals valued knowledge and resources and felt that policy facilitated implementation. Results suggest that classroom physical activity breaks are influenced by multiple factors across varied levels of the social-ecological model. Understanding this relationship can inform future professional development to increase the provision of classroom physical activity breaks among teachers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeanne Barcelona
- Department of Kinesiology, Health and Sports Studies, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Erin Centeio
- Department of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Science, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Sharon Phillips
- Department of Population Health, School of Health Professions and Human Services, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, USA
| | - Dara Gleeson
- Social and Behavioral Sciences Department, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Kevin Mercier
- Department of Health and Sports Sciences, Adelphi University, Garden City, NY, USA
| | - John Foley
- Department of Physical Education, State University of New York at Cortland, Cortland, NY, USA
| | - Kelly Simonton
- Division of Kinesiology & Health, The University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - Alex Garn
- Department of Kinesiology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
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Sánchez BN, Fu H, Matsuzaki M, Sanchez-Vaznaugh E. Characterizing food environments near schools in California: A latent class approach simultaneously using multiple food outlet types and two spatial scales. Prev Med Rep 2022; 29:101937. [PMID: 35928596 PMCID: PMC9344015 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2022.101937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
It is challenging to evaluate associations between the food environment near schools with either prevalence of childhood obesity or with socioeconomic characteristics of schools. This is because the food environment has many dimensions, including its spatial distribution. We used latent class analysis to classify public schools in urban, suburban, and rural areas in California into food environment classes based on the availability and spatial distribution of multiple types of unhealthy food outlets nearby. All urban schools had at least one unhealthy food outlet nearby, compared to seventy-two percent of schools in rural areas did. Food environment classes varied in the quantity of available food outlets, the relative mix of food outlet types, and the outlets' spatial distribution near schools. Regardless of urbanicity, schools in low-income neighborhoods had greater exposure to unhealthy food outlets. The direction of associations between food environment classes and school size, type, and race/ethnic composition depends on the level of urbanicity of the school locations. Urban schools attended primarily by African American and Asian children are more likely to have greater exposures to unhealthy food outlets. In urban and rural but not suburban areas, schools attended primarily by Latino students had more outlets offering unhealthy foods or beverages nearby. In suburban areas, differences in the spatial distribution of food outlets indicates that food outlets are more likely to cluster near K-12 schools and high schools compared to elementary schools. Intervention design and future research need to consider that the associations between food environment exposures and school characteristics differ by urbanicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brisa N. Sánchez
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Han Fu
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48104, USA
| | - Mika Matsuzaki
- Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Emma Sanchez-Vaznaugh
- Health Education Department, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA
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Poulos A, Kulinna PH. A cluster randomized controlled trial of an after-school playground curriculum intervention to improve children's physical, social, and emotional health: study protocol for the PLAYground project. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:1658. [PMID: 36050657 PMCID: PMC9434531 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13991-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The public health benefits of physical activity for children are well known including contributions to metabolic and cardiorespiratory health. Along with physical benefits, engaging in physical activity can support the social and emotional health of youth and promote health and well-being into adulthood. This cluster-randomized controlled trial assesses the impact of an after-school curriculum aimed at improving physically active and inclusive play to promote physical, social, and emotional health. A secondary focus is on the implementation (appropriateness, feasibility, fidelity, sustainability) of the curriculum. METHODS The PLAYground (Play and Learning Activities for Youth) project utilizes a social-ecological approach, targeting personal, behavioral, and environmental conditions, and Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) to study how a playground curriculum impacts children's health. All elementary schools with an existing after-school program in a large, public school district in Mesa, Arizona will be eligible to participate. Seven schools will be allocated to the intervention arm in year one using random sampling stratified by school-income. In year two, the seven control schools will receive the intervention. Intervention schools will implement the research-based PlayOn!® playground curriculum to promote active and inclusive play. After-school staff will be trained to teach activities that address social and emotional skills (e.g., conflict resolution) through physical activity. Participating students will be trained as peer leaders to extend the playground activities to the recess setting. This trial will assess between-group differences in physical activity, social and emotional health indicators, and number of health and behavior incidents among students attending intervention schools and control schools. Implementation outcomes will also be assessed among program facilitators at each school site. DISCUSSION Enhancement of physical activity opportunities at schools has the potential for high impact and reach due to practicality. Enhancements can also improve quality pedagogy and curricula in after-school settings. Results of this project can inform practical strategies to improve existing after-school programs to prepare leaders (adults and children) to facilitate physical activity, positive social interactions, and emotional well-being. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT ID NCT05470621 , Registered July 22, 2022.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison Poulos
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
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Rider CD, Kao J, Hewawitharana SC, Becker CM, Linares A, Woodward-Lopez G. Validity and Reliability of a Site-Level Assessment Questionnaire to Assess Nutrition and Physical Activity Practices in Schools. Child Obes 2022; 18:383-398. [PMID: 34935464 DOI: 10.1089/chi.2021.0148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Background: Schools are an ideal setting for policy, systems, and environmental approaches to obesity prevention. Although school health environment assessments exist for planning purposes, we developed and tested a comprehensive questionnaire that is suitable for both evaluation and planning. Methods: Reliability was measured by comparing data collected by school personnel from low-income elementary schools across California at two time points, an average of 2 months apart (n = 23). To assess convergent validity, school responses were compared with the responses completed by the research team (n = 28). A weighted kappa test statistic and percent agreement were calculated for each question and specific groups of questions (questionnaire section, item topic, and response type). Results: Test/retest reliability of the questionnaire yielded kappa statistics that ranged from -0.14 to 1.00 (interquartile range [IQR] 0.36). Percent agreement for reliability ranged from 34.78 to 100.00 (IQR 21.7). Kappa statistics for validity ranged from -0.14 to 1.00 (IQR 0.44). Percent agreement for validity ranged from 14.29 to 100.00 (IQR 39.2). Based on these findings, the tool was revised. Conclusions: Study findings indicate that the Site-Level Assessment Questionnaire as tested is a reliable and accurate instrument for use in low-income elementary schools. Revisions may have improved the validity and reliability. We therefore recommend either version for use to support low-income schools in their efforts to assess needs, evaluate progress, and create action plans; and to supply high-quality, aggregable data for large-scale analysis. Additional testing is recommended to validate the revised version, increase generalizability, and determine sensitivity to detect change over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn D Rider
- Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Janice Kao
- Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Sridharshi C Hewawitharana
- Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Christina M Becker
- Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Amanda Linares
- Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Gail Woodward-Lopez
- Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Nutrition Policy Institute, University of California, Sacramento, CA, USA
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Mensah DO, Oyebode O. "We think about the quantity more": factors influencing emerging adults' food outlet choice in a university food environment, a qualitative enquiry. Nutr J 2022; 21:49. [PMID: 35906594 PMCID: PMC9338622 DOI: 10.1186/s12937-022-00801-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In recent decades, the food environment has seen rapid transformation globally, altering food availability and access along with how people interact with the food environment and make food-related choice. OBJECTIVES & METHOD This explorative study aimed to identify the factors that shape the decision-making process for food outlet choices among emerging adults in a Ghanaian University food environment. The study uses focus group discussions in combination with novel dyadic interviews with best friend pairs. Verbatim transcripts were analysed thematically using NVivo 12. RESULTS Drawing on socio-ecological model (SEM) of behaviour, the study used testimony from 46 participants aged 18-25, 47% female, including individuals from major ethnicities and religions in Ghana, and identified three interwoven levels of influence shaping emerging adults' choices of food outlet. The main factors influencing food outlet choice were identified as food prices, spatial accessibility, budget, and food quantity/satiety with additional factors including hygiene, variety of foods, food quality and taste preferences as well as societal factors such as ambience and peer influence. CONCLUSION Multi-component approaches that combine structural level interventions in food retailing along with individual level components may be effective at changing emerging adult consumption behaviour in SSA, although this needs to be studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Opoku Mensah
- Warwick Center for Global Health, Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, The University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
| | - Oyinlola Oyebode
- Warwick Center for Global Health, Division of Health Sciences, Warwick Medical School, The University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
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Zozaya N, Oliva-Moreno J, Vallejo-Torres L. Association between maternal and paternal employment and their children's weight status and unhealthy behaviours: does it matter who the working parent is? BMC Public Health 2022; 22:1331. [PMID: 35821024 PMCID: PMC9277834 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-13735-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The growing number of employed women has been associated with an increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children. We sought to determine whether childhood overweight/obesity in Spain is associated with labour participation of mothers and fathers, and whether the identity of the main caregiver has an influence on child’s weight and unhealthy behaviour. Methods We used microdata from the 2010 and 2014 Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children surveys performed in Spain (n = 32,694). Logistic and linear multi-level regression models were applied to assess the association between parental employment and children’s self-reported weight status, accounting for school effects and controlling for socioeconomic factors. Separated binary models were also fitted for consumption of fruit, sweets, screen viewing and sedentarism. Results In most cases, the significant associations between children’s weight and their parents’ work status disappeared once the models were adjusted for family wealth and education. However, we found persistent associations for some groups. Girls under 13 years-old living in households where the mother was the only employed parent were more likely to be affected by obesity and to report a higher body mass index value. Children in this type of household were more likely to show unhealthy lifestyles related to diet and leisure time activities. Conclusions Parents’ socioeconomic characteristics had a protective effect on their children’s risk of obesity. Unhealthy behaviours were observed in households with a non-working father and a working mother, although the link with obesity was limited to girls. Our results suggest the need for a more equally shared burden of caregiving. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-13735-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Néboa Zozaya
- Department of Quantitative Methods in Economics and Management, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Calle Saulo Torón, 4 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017, Las Palmas, Spain. .,Weber Economía Y Salud, Calle Moreto 17, 28014, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Juan Oliva-Moreno
- Department of Economic Analysis and Finance, Universidad de Castilla La Mancha, Cobertizo de San Pedro Mártir, s/n, 45002, Toledo, Spain
| | - Laura Vallejo-Torres
- Department of Quantitative Methods in Economics and Management, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Calle Saulo Torón, 4 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017, Las Palmas, Spain
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Huang F, Song Y, Zhao Y, Han Y, Fang Q. Fitness Promotion in a Jump Rope-Based Homework Intervention for Middle School Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Front Psychol 2022; 13:912635. [PMID: 35783780 PMCID: PMC9244795 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.912635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Physical activity (PA) homework offers a promising approach for students to be physically active after school. The current study aims to provide holistic insights into PA homework design and the effects of implementation in practice. In total, ninety-three middle school students were randomly assigned to a homework group (HG) or control group (CG). Participants in HG (n = 47) were requested to complete jump rope homework three times per week for 12 weeks, while their counterparts in CG attended one health education class every week. A homework sheet was used to provide instructions and record information for exercise behaviors during homework completion. Physical fitness tests were conducted to investigate the effects of the jump rope homework on the physical fitness of middle school students. After the intervention, participants in HG reported moderate to vigorous PA during jump rope exercise. The average duration for each practice was approximately 48 min. The returned homework sheets accounted for 86.88% of all homework assignments, indicating a good completion rate. Compared with their counterparts in CG, participants performing jump rope exercise indicated greater improvement in speed, endurance, power, and core muscular endurance. Jump rope homework strengthened physical fitness for middle school students, which provided a valuable addition to comprehensive school PA practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Huang
- School of Physical Education, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Ying Song
- School of Physical Education, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Yingdong Zhao
- Department of Physical Education and Sport Science, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang, China
| | - Yating Han
- School of Physical Education, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- *Correspondence: Yating Han,
| | - Qun Fang
- School of Physical Education, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- Qun Fang,
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Mizéhoun-Adissoda C, Alouki K, Adjobimey M, Yémoa A, Itiblitse R, Alihonou F, Aglago EK, Desport JC. Nutritional and hygienic quality of meals served in school canteens in Togo: A cross-sectional study. Food Control 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2021.108680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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McQuinn S, Belton S, Staines A, Sweeney MR. Co-design of a school-based physical activity intervention for adolescent females in a disadvantaged community: insights from the Girls Active Project (GAP). BMC Public Health 2022; 22:615. [PMID: 35351045 PMCID: PMC8966245 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-12635-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Globally, adolescents' physical activity (PA) participation rates are low, particularly among lower socioeconomic groups, with females consistently the least active. The aim of this study was to co-design, with adolescent females, a school-based PA intervention in a single-sex, females-only designated disadvantaged post-primary school in Ireland. This involved using the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) and Public and Patient Involvement (PPI). This paper outlines the novel methodological approach taken. METHODS The three stages 1) understand the behaviour, 2) identify intervention options, and 3) identify content and implementation options of the BCW guide is described. A student PPI Youth Advisory Group (YAG) (n = 8, aged 15-17) was established. Mixed-methods were used with students (n = 287, aged 12-18) and teachers (n = 7) to capture current self-reported PA levels and to identify factors influencing adolescent females' PA behaviour in their school setting. The intervention options, content and implementation options were identified through discussion groups with the YAG. The Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) checklist was used to specify details of the intervention. RESULTS Just 1.4% of the students in this sample reported meeting the recommended PA guidelines. Students identified having more 'time' as the strongest predictor to becoming more active in school (Mean = 4.01, 95% CI 3.91 to 4.12). Social influences, environmental context and resources, behavioural regulation, beliefs about capabilities, goals, and reinforcement emerged from the qualitative data as factors influencing PA behaviour at school. The BCW co-design process resulted in the identification of seven intervention functions, four policy categories and 21 Behaviour Change Techniques. The Girls Active Project (GAP) intervention, a peer-led, after-school PA programme was proposed. CONCLUSIONS This paper describes how the BCW, a comprehensive, evidence-based, theory-driven framework was used in combination with PPI to co-design a school-based intervention aimed to increase adolescent females' PA levels. This approach could be replicated in other settings to develop targeted behavioural interventions in populations with specific demographic characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara McQuinn
- School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health, Faculty of Science and Health, Dublin City University, Dublin, 9, Ireland.
| | - Sarahjane Belton
- School of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Science and Health, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin, 9, Ireland
| | - Anthony Staines
- School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health, Faculty of Science and Health, Dublin City University, Dublin, 9, Ireland
| | - Mary Rose Sweeney
- School of Nursing, Psychotherapy and Community Health, Faculty of Science and Health, Dublin City University, Dublin, 9, Ireland
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D'Souza E, Vandevijvere S, Swinburn B. The healthiness of New Zealand school food environments: a national survey. Aust N Z J Public Health 2022; 46:325-331. [PMID: 35298061 DOI: 10.1111/1753-6405.13210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the healthiness of New Zealand school food environments. METHODS In 2016, primary and secondary schools were invited to complete a cross-sectional questionnaire. School nutrition policies were analysed using an adapted Wellness School Assessment Tool. Canteen menus were analysed using the National Food and Beverage Classification System, and a sample of menus (n=54) were validated using fieldworker observations. RESULTS In total, 819 schools (response rate 33%) participated. Forty per cent had a nutrition policy, and those analysed (n=145) lacked comprehensiveness and contained weak statements. Seventy-one per cent sold food and beverages during the school day. The school food service offered mainly unhealthy items. Many schools (81%) used food and beverages for fundraising with 90% of them using 'less healthy' items. Most had vegetable gardens (80%), included nutrition education in the curriculum (90%), were not sponsored by food and beverage companies (94%) and did not have commercial advertising on school grounds (97%). CONCLUSION New Zealand school nutrition policies are weak, and canteen and fundraising items are largely unhealthy, which undermine other positive efforts. IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH This study provides evidence of unhealthy school food environments and supports the need for stronger national-level policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica D'Souza
- School of Population Health, The University of Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | - Boyd Swinburn
- School of Population Health, The University of Auckland, New Zealand
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Bourke M, Patten RK, Dash S, Pascoe M, Craike M, Firth J, Bailey A, Jacka F, Parker AG. The Effect of Interventions That Target Multiple Modifiable Health Behaviors on Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression in Young People: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. J Adolesc Health 2022; 70:208-219. [PMID: 34580029 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE This meta-analysis aimed to determine the effect of interventions targeting multiple modifiable health behaviors (i.e., physical activity/sedentary behaviors, nutrition/diet, sleep, substance use) on depression and anxiety in young people. METHODS A search of electronic databases from inception until May 2020 was conducted. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that explicitly targeted at least two modifiable health behaviors, measured anxiety or depression at baseline and after intervention using a validated instrument, and included participants with an average age between 12 and 25 years were included. The effect of interventions was synthesized using random effects meta-analysis. RESULTS A total of 14 RCTs reporting on depression and six RCTs reporting on anxiety were included in the quantitative synthesis. Results showed that although interventions targeting multiple modifiable health behaviors did not produce significant reductions in symptoms of depression (g¯ = -.16, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [-.34, .02], 95% prediction interval [PI] = [-.80, .48], very low certainty evidence) or anxiety (g¯ = -.55, 95% CI = [-1.36, .26], 95% PI = [-3.48, 2.83], very low certainty evidence) across all young people, there was a significant difference in the effect of interventions on depression based on intervention type (Q = 8.37, df = 2, p = .012). Specifically, interventions targeting multiple modifiable health behaviors delivered to groups of young people with an elevated risk of depression had a favorable effect (g¯ = -.28, 95% CI = [-.52, -.05], 95% PI = [-1.04, .47]) on symptoms of depression compared with controls. CONCLUSIONS Although not universally effective, this meta-analysis establishes the potential efficacy of targeted interventions aiming to improve multiple modifiable health behaviors to address depression in young people at elevated risk of depression. More research is needed to understand the effect of such interventions on symptoms of anxiety in young people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Bourke
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Footscray, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Rhiannon K Patten
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Footscray, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sarah Dash
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Footscray, Victoria, Australia; Deakin University, IMPACT - The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Food & Mood Centre, School of Medicine, Barwon Health, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michaela Pascoe
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Footscray, Victoria, Australia
| | - Melinda Craike
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Footscray, Victoria, Australia; Mitchell Institute for Education and Health Policy, Victoria University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Joseph Firth
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom; NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Alan Bailey
- Centre for Youth Mental Health and Orygen, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Felice Jacka
- Deakin University, IMPACT - The Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation, Food & Mood Centre, School of Medicine, Barwon Health, Geelong, Victoria, Australia; Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Black Dog Institute, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; College of Public Health, Medical & Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Alexandra G Parker
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Footscray, Victoria, Australia; Centre for Youth Mental Health and Orygen, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Cunha CMDL, Canuto R, Rosa PBZ, Longarai LS, Schuch I. Associação entre padrões alimentares com fatores socioeconômicos e ambiente alimentar em uma cidade do Sul do Brasil. CIENCIA & SAUDE COLETIVA 2022; 27:687-700. [DOI: 10.1590/1413-81232022272.37322020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Resumo Objetivou-se estudar a associação entre padrão alimentar, fatores demográficos, socioeconômicos e o ambiente alimentar em uma população de adultos e idosos de uma cidade do Sul do Brasil. Estudo transversal com pessoas de ambos os sexos e idade entre 20 e 70 anos. Os padrões alimentares foram identificados por meio da análise de componentes principais. A regressão de Poisson foi utilizada para estimar as razões de prevalência brutas e ajustadas e os intervalos de 95% de confiança (IC 95%). Quatro padrões alimentares foram identificados: saudável, tradicional, carboidratos e açúcares refinados e fast food. Encontraram-se associações positivas entre: sexo feminino e maior renda com o padrão alimentar saudável; cor da pele preta ou parda e domicílios com seis ou mais moradores com padrões alimentares tradicional e carboidratos e açúcares refinados; maior escolaridade com o padrão fast food. Realizar as principais refeições em casa associou-se ao padrão tradicional, e almoço ou jantar fora do domicílio com os padrões carboidratos e açúcares refinados e fast food. Posição socioeconômica mais baixa leva ao maior consumo do padrão alimentar tradicional e/ou rico em carboidratos e açúcares, e uma posição socioeconômica mais elevada parece permitir uma escolha entre padrão saudável ou fast food.
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Ingman BC, Loecke C, Belansky ES. A Partnership Among Local Public Health Agencies, Elementary Schools, and a University to Address Childhood Obesity: A Scalable Model of the Assess, Identify, Make It Happen Process. FRONTIERS IN HEALTH SERVICES 2022; 2:816536. [PMID: 36925837 PMCID: PMC10012628 DOI: 10.3389/frhs.2022.816536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Background One pathway to addressing childhood obesity is through implementing evidence-based practices (EBPs) shown to promote nutrition and physical activity in K-12 school settings. Assess, Identify, Make it happen (AIM) is a strategic planning process to engage stakeholders in implementing EBPs in their K-12 schools. Local Public Health Agencies (LPHAs) are a potential partner to facilitate this process to a broader audience of rural school communities. Methods A process and outcome evaluation design was applied in this study to examine the extent to which LPHAs effectively implemented AIM with rural/frontier schools in comparison to university staff. Data collection included post-meeting surveys completed by facilitators, a post-intervention interview with facilitators, a survey of school task force members at the end of the AIM process, and systematic documentation of the intervention. Results Reach -Among the 26 eligible elementary schools, 18 (69%) agreed to participate. Effect -In total, schools facilitated by LPHAs fully implemented an average of 4.0 changes per school, while schools facilitated by the university staff fully implemented an average of 3.7 changes. Adoption -Among the five LPHAs in the target region, all five agreed to partner on the initiative, but some agencies were unable to identify sufficient personnel to facilitate all schools in their catchment area. Implementation -(1) In total, 89 of 94 (95%) meetings scheduled by LPHA facilitators occurred. 47 of 48 (98%) meetings scheduled by the university staff occurred. (2) The university staff self-reported 93% of agenda items in the AIM process as "completely" followed while LPHA facilitators reported 41% of agenda items as "completely" followed. (3) Task force satisfaction with the AIM process and facilitator showed limited variance across LPHAs and university-facilitated schools. Maintenance -Of the 16 school districts that agreed to participate in the school-based version of AIM, 9 (56%) also participated in a district-wide version of AIM 2 years later. Conclusion AIM is an effective process for implementing EBPs in elementary schools when facilitated by LPHAs. Effective partnerships, a nuanced approach to fidelity, scalability considerations, and the role of technical assistance and training all contributed to the successful implementation of this LPHA-Elementary school partnership.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin C Ingman
- Center for Rural School Health and Education, Morgridge College of Education, University of Denver, Denver, CO, United States
| | - Carla Loecke
- Center for Rural School Health and Education, Morgridge College of Education, University of Denver, Denver, CO, United States
| | - Elaine S Belansky
- Center for Rural School Health and Education, Morgridge College of Education, University of Denver, Denver, CO, United States
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Elrakaiby M, Hasnin S, Stage VC, Dev DA. 'Read for Nutrition' programme improves preschool children's liking and consumption of target vegetable. Public Health Nutr 2021; 25:1-9. [PMID: 34955106 PMCID: PMC9991685 DOI: 10.1017/s1368980021004985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine whether the 'Read for Nutrition' programme would increase liking and consumption of broccoli (a target vegetable) in preschool children and test acceptability and practicality of the programme. DESIGN Pilot pre-post intervention study, where childcare teachers received training and coaching followed by reading the book 'Monsters Don't Eat Broccoli' multiple times with the children during a three-week intervention. SETTING Five classrooms of Educare, Lincoln, Nebraska in 2018. PARTICIPANTS Sixty-nine (11 to 16 children per classroom) preschool-aged children and sixteen teachers (minimum, three per classroom). RESULTS Average total consumption of broccoli increased 35 % (0·14 ounces or 0·05th cup) after the 'Read for Nutrition' programme (t = 2·66; P = 0·01; 95 % CIs (0·035, 0·246)) for all children. Proportional consumption increased for children who received ≥ five exposures to the book (t46 = 2·77; P = 0·008). Exposures to the book predicted proportional consumption (β = 0·365; P = 0·002). Liking of broccoli increased (W69 = 2·2, P = 0·03) as well. Teachers rated the programme as acceptable, practical and enjoyable to children and to themselves. CONCLUSIONS Programmes such as 'Read for Nutrition' have the potential to improve children's vegetable liking and consumption in early care and education settings with only book readings and no exposure to a real vegetable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maha Elrakaiby
- Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln68588-0364, USA
| | - Saima Hasnin
- Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln68588-0364, USA
| | - Virginia C Stage
- Department of Nutrition Science, College of Allied Health Sciences, East Carolina University, Greenville, USA
| | - Dipti A Dev
- Department of Child, Youth and Family Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln68588-0364, USA
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Calvert HG, Lane HG, McQuilkin M, Wenner JA, Turner L. Elementary Schools' Response to Student Wellness Needs during the COVID-19 Shutdown: A Qualitative Exploration Using the R = MC 2 Readiness Heuristic. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 19:279. [PMID: 35010539 PMCID: PMC8750629 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19010279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
During spring of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying public health advisories forced K-12 schools throughout the United States to suspend in-person instruction. School personnel rapidly transitioned to remote provision of academic instruction and wellness services such as school meals and counseling services. The aim of this study was to investigate how schools responded to the transition to remote supports, including assessment of what readiness characteristics schools leveraged or developed to facilitate those transitions. Semi-structured interviews informed by school wellness implementation literature were conducted in the spring of 2020. Personnel (n = 50) from 39 urban and rural elementary schools nationwide participated. The readiness = motivation capacity2 (R = MC2) heuristic, developed by Scaccia and colleagues, guided coding to determine themes related to schools' readiness to support student wellness in innovative ways during the pandemic closure. Two distinct code sets emerged, defined according to the R = MC2 heuristic (1) Innovations: roles that schools took on during the pandemic response, and (2) Readiness: factors influencing schools' motivation and capacity to carry out those roles. Schools demonstrated unprecedented capacity and motivation to provide crucial wellness support to students and families early in the COVID-19 pandemic. These efforts can inform future resource allocation and new strategies to implement school wellness practices when schools resume normal operations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah G. Calvert
- Center for School and Community Partnerships, College of Education, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, Boise, ID 83725-1742, USA; (M.M.); (L.T.)
| | - Hannah G. Lane
- Department of Population Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Duke University, 705 Broad Street, Durham, NC 27705, USA;
| | - Michaela McQuilkin
- Center for School and Community Partnerships, College of Education, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, Boise, ID 83725-1742, USA; (M.M.); (L.T.)
| | - Julianne A. Wenner
- Department of Teaching and Learning, College of Education, Clemson University, 405 Gantt Circle, Clemson, SC 29634, USA;
| | - Lindsey Turner
- Center for School and Community Partnerships, College of Education, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, Boise, ID 83725-1742, USA; (M.M.); (L.T.)
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Stylianou M, Woodforde J, Duncombe S, Kolbe-Alexander T, Gomersall S. School physical activity policies and associations with physical activity practices and behaviours: A systematic review of the literature. Health Place 2021; 73:102705. [PMID: 34844131 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2021.102705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The development and implementation of school policies is considered a key strategy for the promotion of physical activity (PA) in children and adolescents. This study aimed to systematically review and synthesise existing literature focusing on the associations between formal written school-based PA policies and (a) school PA practices and (b) PA behaviours of school-aged children and adolescents. Fifty-one papers reporting on 52 studies met the eligibility criteria. All but two studies were from high income countries, most used cross-sectional designs and demonstrated fair methodological quality, and just over a third examined language aspects of policies. Findings predominantly indicated a lack of or inconclusive associations between the various characteristics examined and PA outcomes. Inconclusive associations were identified between both PA practice and behaviour outcomes and state level policies, policies focusing on PE and school-day PA, and in studies examining language aspects of policies. Inconclusive associations with both types of outcomes were more likely to be identified compared to a lack of associations in studies using self-report measures and in studies not providing information about the quality of exposure and outcome measures used. Overall, findings highlight the need for further research that acknowledges the complex relationship between school policies and PA outcomes and employs robust methodological approaches to enhance our understanding of this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michalis Stylianou
- School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia.
| | - James Woodforde
- School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - Stephanie Duncombe
- School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - Tracy Kolbe-Alexander
- School of Health & Wellbeing, University of Southern Queensland, lpswich, Queensland, 4305, Australia
| | - Sjaan Gomersall
- School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia; School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia
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Mingay E, Hart M, Yoong S, Hure A. Why We Eat the Way We Do: A Call to Consider Food Culture in Public Health Initiatives. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:11967. [PMID: 34831723 PMCID: PMC8623951 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182211967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The way we eat has changed dramatically in only a few decades. While definitions of food culture have previously existed, a clear description of modern food culture that can be used for health promotion is lacking. In this paper, we propose a concept of food culture for application within public health, what a positive food culture looks like compared to negative elements that have dominated in developed countries and the consequences for physical and mental health and wellbeing. We support calls to action from the international community to reconsider the way we eat. All segments of society have a role to play in building a positive food culture, and it is critical that macro (policy and systems) and meso (community) level environmental factors align and provide supportive environments that promote health-enhancing behaviours. Defining food culture is a necessary step towards articulating the complexities that influence food behaviours and impact health. The ultimate goal is collective action to enable population-wide and sustained improvements to the way we eat, and how we think and feel about food.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edwina Mingay
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia; (S.Y.); (A.H.)
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Newcastle, NSW 2305, Australia
| | - Melissa Hart
- School of Health Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia;
- Hunter New England Mental Health Service, Waratah, Newcastle, NSW 2298, Australia
| | - Serene Yoong
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia; (S.Y.); (A.H.)
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Newcastle, NSW 2305, Australia
- Hunter New England Population Health, Wallsend, Newcastle, NSW 2287, Australia
- School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia
| | - Alexis Hure
- School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia; (S.Y.); (A.H.)
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, Newcastle, NSW 2305, Australia
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Cohen JFW, Hecht AA, Hager ER, Turner L, Burkholder K, Schwartz MB. Strategies to Improve School Meal Consumption: A Systematic Review. Nutrients 2021; 13:3520. [PMID: 34684521 PMCID: PMC8538164 DOI: 10.3390/nu13103520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
School meals can play an integral role in improving children's diets and addressing health disparities. Initiatives and policies to increase consumption have the potential to ensure students benefit from the healthy school foods available. This systematic review evaluates studies examining initiatives, interventions, and policies to increase school meal consumption. Following PRISMA guidelines, this review was conducted using four databases and resulted in a total of 96 studies. The research evidence supports the following strategies to increase school meal consumption: (1) offering students more menu choices; (2) adapting recipes to improve the palatability and/or cultural appropriateness of foods; (3) providing pre-sliced fruits; (4) rewarding students who try fruits and vegetables; (5) enabling students to have sufficient time to eat with longer (~30 min) lunch periods; (6) having recess before lunch; and (7) limiting students' access to competitive foods during the school day. Research findings were mixed when examining the impact of nutrition education and/or offering taste tests to students, although multiple benefits for nutrition education outside the cafeteria were documented. There is some evidence that choice architecture (i.e., "Smarter Lunchroom") techniques increase the proportion of students who select targeted meal components; however, there is not evidence that these techniques alone increase consumption. There were limited studies of the impact of increasing portion sizes; serving vegetables before other meal components; and strengthening local district and/or school wellness policies, suggesting that further research is necessary. Additionally, longer-term studies are needed to understand the impact of policies that limit students' access to flavored milk. Several studies found increases in students' meal consumption following the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA) and concerns regarding an increase in food waste following the HHFKA were not supported. Overall, there are a range of effective strategies to increase school meal consumption that can be implemented by schools, districts, and policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels (PROSPERO registration: CRD42021244688).
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana F. W. Cohen
- Department of Public Health and Nutrition, Merrimack College, 315 Turnpike Street, North Andover, MA 01845, USA
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Amelie A. Hecht
- Institute for Research on Poverty, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1180 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA;
| | - Erin R. Hager
- Departments of Pediatrics and Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA;
| | - Lindsey Turner
- College of Education, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, Boise, ID 83725, USA;
| | - Kara Burkholder
- College of Liberal Arts and Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA;
| | - Marlene B. Schwartz
- Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Connecticut, 1 Constitution Plaza, Suite 600, Hartford, CT 06103, USA;
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Aydin G, Margerison C, Worsley A, Booth A. Parents' and teachers' views of the promotion of healthy eating in Australian primary schools. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:1788. [PMID: 34610819 PMCID: PMC8491384 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-11813-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Primary schools have long been identified as appropriate settings for improving the healthy eating behaviours of children and helping them develop food skills. This qualitative study explored the views of Australian primary school parents and teachers about schools' strengths and weaknesses in promoting healthy eating and equipping children with food skills. METHODS Nineteen parents and 17 teachers from Victoria participated in semi-structured interviews. Audio recordings were transcribed and underwent thematic analysis using Nvivo. RESULTS This study demonstrated that parents and teachers believed that several facilitators helped promote children's healthy eating. These included food and nutrition education (FNE) programs, the community-based nature of schools, and teacher role modelling and the authority schools possess over children. Time scarcity, lack of teacher expertise, lack of leadership and funding were reported as barriers. School food environments such as canteens, lunch orders, fundraising events and school fairs were identified as both weaknesses and strengths by parents and teachers, which indicated inconsistent implementation of school nutrition policies across schools. CONCLUSIONS Australian primary schools demonstrate some useful efforts to promote healthy eating among children. However, there are numerous facilitators and barriers which impact on the promotion of healthy eating. These factors need to be addressed in order to develop healthy eating habits further among elementary students. These results provide directions for policymakers and school managers, as they point to the areas that need to be improved to assist the design of schools that better promote healthy eating among children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gozde Aydin
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
| | - Claire Margerison
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Anthony Worsley
- School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Alison Booth
- Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
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Neil-Sztramko SE, Caldwell H, Dobbins M. School-based physical activity programs for promoting physical activity and fitness in children and adolescents aged 6 to 18. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2021; 9:CD007651. [PMID: 34555181 PMCID: PMC8459921 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd007651.pub3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Physical activity among children and adolescents is associated with lower adiposity, improved cardio-metabolic health, and improved fitness. Worldwide, fewer than 30% of children and adolescents meet global physical activity recommendations of at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day. Schools may be ideal sites for interventions given that children and adolescents in most parts of the world spend a substantial amount of time in transit to and from school or attending school. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this review update is to summarise the evidence on effectiveness of school-based interventions in increasing moderate to vigorous physical activity and improving fitness among children and adolescents 6 to 18 years of age. Specific objectives are: • to evaluate the effects of school-based interventions on increasing physical activity and improving fitness among children and adolescents; • to evaluate the effects of school-based interventions on improving body composition; and • to determine whether certain combinations or components (or both) of school-based interventions are more effective than others in promoting physical activity and fitness in this target population. SEARCH METHODS We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, BIOSIS, SPORTDiscus, and Sociological Abstracts to 1 June 2020, without language restrictions. We screened reference lists of included articles and relevant systematic reviews. We contacted primary authors of studies to ask for additional information. SELECTION CRITERIA Eligible interventions were relevant to public health practice (i.e. were not delivered by a clinician), were implemented in the school setting, and aimed to increase physical activity among all school-attending children and adolescents (aged 6 to 18) for at least 12 weeks. The review was limited to randomised controlled trials. For this update, we have added two new criteria: the primary aim of the study was to increase physical activity or fitness, and the study used an objective measure of physical activity or fitness. Primary outcomes included proportion of participants meeting physical activity guidelines and duration of moderate to vigorous physical activity and sedentary time (new to this update). Secondary outcomes included measured body mass index (BMI), physical fitness, health-related quality of life (new to this update), and adverse events (new to this update). Television viewing time, blood cholesterol, and blood pressure have been removed from this update. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two independent review authors used standardised forms to assess each study for relevance, to extract data, and to assess risk of bias. When discrepancies existed, discussion occurred until consensus was reached. Certainty of evidence was assessed according to GRADE. A random-effects meta-analysis based on the inverse variance method was conducted with participants stratified by age (children versus adolescents) when sufficient data were reported. Subgroup analyses explored effects by intervention type. MAIN RESULTS Based on the three new inclusion criteria, we excluded 16 of the 44 studies included in the previous version of this review. We screened an additional 9968 titles (search October 2011 to June 2020), of which 978 unique studies were potentially relevant and 61 met all criteria for this update. We included a total of 89 studies representing complete data for 66,752 study participants. Most studies included children only (n = 56), followed by adolescents only (n = 22), and both (n = 10); one study did not report student age. Multi-component interventions were most common (n = 40), followed by schooltime physical activity (n = 19), enhanced physical education (n = 15), and before and after school programmes (n = 14); one study explored both enhanced physical education and an after school programme. Lack of blinding of participants, personnel, and outcome assessors and loss to follow-up were the most common sources of bias. Results show that school-based physical activity interventions probably result in little to no increase in time engaged in moderate to vigorous physical activity (mean difference (MD) 0.73 minutes/d, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.16 to 1.30; 33 studies; moderate-certainty evidence) and may lead to little to no decrease in sedentary time (MD -3.78 minutes/d, 95% CI -7.80 to 0.24; 16 studies; low-certainty evidence). School-based physical activity interventions may improve physical fitness reported as maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max) (MD 1.19 mL/kg/min, 95% CI 0.57 to 1.82; 13 studies; low-certainty evidence). School-based physical activity interventions may result in a very small decrease in BMI z-scores (MD -0.06, 95% CI -0.09 to -0.02; 21 studies; low-certainty evidence) and may not impact BMI expressed as kg/m² (MD -0.07, 95% CI -0.15 to 0.01; 50 studies; low-certainty evidence). We are very uncertain whether school-based physical activity interventions impact health-related quality of life or adverse events. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Given the variability of results and the overall small effects, school staff and public health professionals must give the matter considerable thought before implementing school-based physical activity interventions. Given the heterogeneity of effects, the risk of bias, and findings that the magnitude of effect is generally small, results should be interpreted cautiously.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hilary Caldwell
- Department of Kinesiology, Child Health & Exercise Medicine Program, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Maureen Dobbins
- School of Nursing, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
- National Collaborating Centre for Methods and Tools, Hamilton, Canada
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