Project Spraoi: a two-year longitudinal study on the effectiveness of a school-based nutrition and physical activity intervention on dietary intake, nutritional knowledge and markers of health of Irish schoolchildren

Abstract

Objective:To assess the effectiveness of a nutrition and physical activity (PA) intervention on dietary intake (DI), nutritional knowledge (NK), blood pressure (BP), anthropometric measures and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) of schoolchildren.Design:Longitudinal study. DI, NK, BMI, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), BP and CRF were all measured/calculated prior to (October 2014) and at the end of (June 2016) intervention delivery.Setting:Two primary schools (one intervention and one control), Cork, Ireland.Participants:Six-year-olds (n 49; mean age = 6·09 (sd 0·33) years) and 10-year-olds (n 52; mean age = 9·90 (sd 0·37) years).Results:There was a large and a moderate statistically significant difference between the change in systolic (P = 0·005, effect size (ES) = 0·165) and diastolic BP (P = 0·023, ES = 0·116), respectively, for 10-year-olds in the intervention and control groups. There was also a large statistically significant difference between the change in WHtR (P = 0·0005, ES = 0·386) and a moderate statistically significant difference between the change in NK (P = 0·027, ES = 0·107) for 10-year-olds in the intervention and control groups. There was a large statistically significant difference between the change in percentage of energy from protein in 10-year-old females (P = 0·021, ES = 0·276) in the intervention and control groups.Conclusions:Project Spraoi is Ireland’s first ever school-based intervention that has been evaluated and proven effective in improving DI, NK, WHtR and BP in older primary-school children in one intervention school.

Effectiveness of School-Based Interventions in Europe for Promoting Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors in Children

“…Among the successful diet and physical activity interventions, three involved teachers' training and participation of children's parents [31][32][33][34], one involved teachers' training [35] and one involved participation of children's parents [36]. Teachers' training was conducted through workshops concerning healthy habits for school children and/or through teaching materials (re-printed posters for drinking rules or pre-prints to record children's fluid intake).…”

“…Three studies had a benefit on anthropometric measurements [31][32][33]36]. Specifically, one study showed a reduction in the incidence of obesity [31,32], another one showed an increase in the % of children of healthy body weight [33], and one found a reduction in the waistto-height ratio, but this reduction was recorded only in 10-year-old children [36]. Furthermore, two studies had a beneficial effect on biomarkers and blood pressure (BP) [33,36].…”

“…Specifically, one study showed a reduction in the incidence of obesity [31,32], another one showed an increase in the % of children of healthy body weight [33], and one found a reduction in the waistto-height ratio, but this reduction was recorded only in 10-year-old children [36]. Furthermore, two studies had a beneficial effect on biomarkers and blood pressure (BP) [33,36]. Specifically, blood glucose and triacylglyceride (TAG) concentrations were reduced following the intervention [33].…”

“…Specifically, blood glucose and triacylglyceride (TAG) concentrations were reduced following the intervention [33]. Five studies found favorable change for at least one dietary behavior outcome [33,[35][36][37][38][39]. These behaviors included regular breakfast consumption [33,37], adequate vegetable consumption, moderation in sodium intake [35] and adequate fiber intake (shown only in 6-year-old boys) [36], and better diet quality [33,39].…”

“…Five studies found favorable change for at least one dietary behavior outcome [33,[35][36][37][38][39]. These behaviors included regular breakfast consumption [33,37], adequate vegetable consumption, moderation in sodium intake [35] and adequate fiber intake (shown only in 6-year-old boys) [36], and better diet quality [33,39]. When it came to physical activity behavior, one study showed positive effects on physical fitness and motor skills (speed, coordination, strength, mobility and endurance) [34], and another one found decreased time spent on sedentary activities [38,39].…”