scholarly journals A primary-school-based study to reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity – the EdAl (Educació en Alimentació) study: a randomized controlled trial

Trials ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucia Tarro ◽  
Elisabet Llauradó ◽  
Rosa Albaladejo ◽  
David Moriña ◽  
Victoria Arija ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Childhood Obesity ◽  
Primary School ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
School Based

scholarly journals Effectiveness of a gamification strategy to prevent childhood obesity in schools: a cluster-randomized controlled trial

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (OCE2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastián Peña ◽  
Macarena Carranza ◽  
Cristóbal Cuadrado ◽  
Paula Espinoza ◽  
Valeska Müller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Childhood Obesity ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Mean Difference ◽  
Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Z Score ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
School Based ◽  
Cluster Randomized

AbstractIntroductionSchool-based interventions to prevent obesity have shown heterogeneous results. Recent school-based trials with “negative” have cast doubt on their effectiveness. In the Juntos Santiago trial, we used an innovative, theory-based gamification strategy to increase motivation and participation in healthy behavioural changes. This is the first trial, to our knowledge, to use gamification to prevent childhood obesity.ObjectiveTo examine the effectiveness of a multicomponent gamification strategy to prevent obesity in 5th and 6th-grade schoolchildren in Santiago de Chile.Materials and methodsSchool-based, parallel cluster-randomized controlled trial. 81 schools in two municipalities in Santiago, Chile, with more than 40 students in 5th and 6th grade altogether were eligible. Schools were randomized and sequentially invited to participate. The multicomponent intervention was a gamification strategy with four components: (i) healthy challenges (snacks, steps and healthy activities); (ii) gamification incentives, such as points, levels, leaderboards and badges; (iii) rewards (infrastructure and fun activity) and (iv) an online platform for parents and students to monitor the progress. Participants were followed up at 5 and 8 months. Pre-registered primary outcomes were body mass index (BMI) z-score and waist circumference (WC) at 8 months. Secondary outcomes were BMI and systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) at 8 months. Multilevel analysis adjusted for individual and school-level covariates were used.Results24 schools (9 controls) and 2333 students (709 controls) were assessed at baseline and 2264 students (689 controls) were assessed at 8 months. The mean BMI z-score was lower in the intervention group compared to the control group at 8 months (mean difference -0.132, 95% CI -0.249; -0.014), while no difference was observed for WC. Mean BMI and SBP were lower in the intervention arm compared to the control arm (mean difference for SBP -0.139; 95% CI -2.39; -0.40). No difference was observed for DBP.DiscussionThe gamification strategy appears to prevent childhood obesity and reduce systolic blood pressure in school children in Santiago. These effects are larger than the pooled effects from existing meta-analyses. Further research should identify which components of the gamification strategy were more effective.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT03459742Funded byMayors Challenge 2016, Bloomberg Philanthropies

scholarly journals Evaluating OzHarvest’s primary-school Food Education and Sustainability Training (FEAST) program in 10–12-year-old children in Australia: protocol for a pragmatic cluster non-randomized controlled trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Karpouzis ◽  
R. Lindberg ◽  
A. Walsh ◽  
S. Shah ◽  
G. Abbott ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomized Controlled Trial ◽  
Primary School ◽  
Nutrition Education ◽  
Process Evaluation ◽  
Food Waste ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
School Based ◽  
Food Education

Abstract Background The promotion of healthy eating is a public health priority. Poor dietary behaviours, including low fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption are of particular concern among children. Novel nutrition promotion strategies are needed to improve F&V consumption. Sustainability education could be used to support nutrition education within the school context. The purpose of this paper is to report the protocol for impact and process evaluation of the school-based Food Education and Sustainability Training (FEAST) program, designed to educate children about sustainability, food waste and nutrition, using hands-on cooking activities. Methods A pragmatic, parallel, cluster non-randomized controlled trial with pre- and post-measures, will be implemented among 20 primary schools (10 intervention vs 10 wait-list-control) within NSW, Australia, involving children in Grades 5–6. FEAST is a curriculum-aligned program, delivered as a 1.5-h lesson/week, for a 10-week unit of inquiry, incorporating theory and cooking. FEAST was developed using theoretical frameworks which included Social Cognitive Theory and the Precede-Proceed Planning model. Primary outcomes include children’s self-reported F&V intakes (serves/day). Food literacy constructs such as: nutrition knowledge, food preparation and cooking skills, self-efficacy and behaviours, food waste knowledge and behaviours and food production knowledge, will be assessed as secondary outcomes. Process evaluation will assess program reach, adoption, implementation, maintenance, satisfaction and perceived benefits by teachers and students. An online survey (including quantitative and qualitative questions) was developed for administration at baseline (impact evaluation) and immediately post-intervention (impact and process evaluation). Intervention effects on quantitative study outcomes will be estimated with ​generalised linear mixed models, including random effects and will follow the intention-to-treat principles. Open-ended questions embedded within the surveys will be analysed qualitatively using content and thematic analyses. Discussion Results from this trial will provide valuable information on the value of adding environmental sustainability strategies to nutrition education in schools. Results will inform the design of future research and programs focused on primary-school children’s nutrition, sustainability-related behaviours and experiential school-based interventions. Trial registration Trial registered 14th December 2020 with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12620001347954).

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