Positive impact of a pre-school-based nutritional intervention on children's fruit and vegetable intake: results of a cluster-randomized trial

Public Health Nutr. 2012 Mar;15(3):466-75. doi: 10.1017/S136898001100200X. Epub 2011 Aug 23.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the short-term impact of a nutritional intervention aimed at reducing childhood overweight in German pre-school children.

Design: Using a cluster-randomized study design with waiting-list controls, we tested a 6-month intervention administered once weekly by a nutrition expert consisting of joint meal preparation and activities for children and parents such as tasting and preparing nutritious, fresh foods. At baseline, 6 and 12 months, a parent-completed questionnaire assessed fruit and vegetable intakes (primary outcomes) and water and sugared drinks consumption (secondary outcomes). Direct measurement assessed BMI, skinfold thickness and waist-to-height-ratio. An intention-to-treat analysis used random-effects panel regression models to assess the intervention effect, adjusted for each child's age, gender, immigrant background and maternal education.

Setting: Eighteen pre-schools from three south German regions.

Subjects: Healthy children aged 3-6 years.

Results: Three hundred and seventy-seven (80 %) eligible pre-school children participated in the study. Of these, 348 provided sufficient data for analysis. The sample mean age was 4·26 (sd 0·78) years; the majority (53·2 %) were boys. Children's fruit and vegetable intakes increased significantly (P < 0·001 and P < 0·05, respectively); no significant changes in the consumption of water, sugared drinks or anthropometric measurements were noted.

Conclusions: Nutritional interventions in pre-schools have the potential to change eating behaviours in young children, which in the long term might reduce risk for developing overweight.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Diet / standards*
  • Diet Surveys
  • Dietary Sucrose / administration & dosage
  • Drinking
  • Feeding Behavior*
  • Female
  • Food Handling
  • Food Preferences*
  • Fruit
  • Germany
  • Health Behavior*
  • Health Promotion / methods*
  • Humans
  • Intention to Treat Analysis
  • Male
  • Overweight / prevention & control*
  • Parents
  • Schools
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Vegetables

Substances

  • Dietary Sucrose