scholarly journals Developing Educational Games for Preschool Children to Improve Dietary Choices and Exercise Capacity

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 3340
Author(s):  
Veronica Piziak
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Educational Games ◽  
Family Participation ◽  
Culturally Appropriate ◽  
School Year ◽  
Sweetened Beverages ◽  
Dietary Choices ◽  
Hispanic Populations ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Summer Session

This article describes the processes used to develop two different types of games used to improve the consumption of healthful foods and increase exercise in preschool Hispanic populations. They were created to meet criteria for effectiveness: age and culturally appropriate, fun, and foster family participation. The first, a pictorial bilingual food bingo game, emphasized vegetable and water consumption and the limitation of sugar-sweetened beverages. A population was selected to study the effectiveness in changing dietary habits, and we were able to show a significantly improved consumption of vegetables at home after using the game during the school year. Next, we developed bilingual video games used to teach nutrition and enhance exercise. The animal characters and narrative were created to allow immersion. The concept was that the animals needed the children’s help to obtain food, exercise tasks were assigned, and nutritional foods were discussed. Focus groups were reviewed for the effectiveness of the concept, ease of usability, and appropriateness for the target audience. The videos were tested in a summer session, and teachers concluded that after two viewings the children enhanced their exercise, bonded to the animals, and were answering the nutrition questions correctly.

A Taxonomy of Educational Games

2010 ◽  
pp. 1-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan O’Brien ◽  
Kimberly A. Lawless ◽  
P. G. Schrader
Keyword(s):  
Instructional Design ◽  
Problem Solving ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Educational Research ◽  
Cognitive Functions ◽  
Theoretical Basis ◽  
Educational Games ◽  
Digital Games ◽  
Educational Objectives ◽  
Different Types

Digital games are a relatively new tool for educators, who often misunderstand their value for education. This is partly since they perceive many very different types of games in the same way. The authors propose a taxonomy of digital games in education based on the features that are relevant to instructional design and educational research. The taxonomy outlines four genres into which games fall, depending on the cognitive functions and skills they engage. The theoretical basis for the taxonomy the authors develop draws from R. M. Gagne’s Five Categories of Learning Outcomes, Bloom’s Taxonomy of Educational Objectives, and D. H. Jonassen’s Typology of Problem Solving. The links between these theories and the educational games taxonomy will allow educators and researchers to understand games in the light of their educational affordances. Instructional design based on these theories can more effectively integrate games into the classroom.

scholarly journals Parent–child cooking meal together may relate to parental concerns about the diets of their toddlers and preschoolers: a cross-sectional analysis in Japan

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Midori Ishikawa ◽  
Kumi Eto ◽  
Miki Miyoshi ◽  
Tetsuji Yokoyama ◽  
Mayu Haraikawa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Young Children ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Nutrition Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Picky Eating ◽  
Sweetened Beverages ◽  
Cooking Practices ◽  
Sectional Analysis ◽  
Parent Child

Abstract Background Parents often have concerns about the food habits of their young children. Cooking is a frequent behavior related to dietary activities at home. We hypothesized that “a parent cooking meals together with young children might alleviate dietary concerns.” The aim of this study was to identify the relationship between parental cooking practices (e.g., cooking meals together with the child) and diet-related concerns. Methods Data were extracted from the “National nutrition survey on preschool children” conducted among nation-wide households with toddlers and preschoolers in 2015 by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan. Parents were classified into two groups comprising those who cooked meals together with their children and those who did not. The following variables were compared: taking too much time to eat (slow eaters), “picky” eating (eating only certain foods), inconsistent food intake (eating too much or too little), playing with food/utensils while eating, preferring sweetened beverages and snacks over meals, eating too fast to chew well, not swallowing food, disinterested in eating, and spitting out food. The associations between parent–child cooking meals together and the concerns pertaining to the child’s dietary habits and food intake were analyzed and compared between the two groups. Results The concerns of “picky eating” and “playing with food/utensils while eating” were lower, while “eating too much” was higher in the parent-cooking together group. The intake frequency of fish, soybeans/soy products, vegetables, and milk among children were higher in the “cooking together” group than among those in the “not cooking together” group. Children in the “cooking together” group consumed a significantly greater variety of foods than those in the “not cooking together” group. Conclusions Cooking a meal together with a child may be related to the parent’s lower concerns about the dietary habits of the child, including “picky eating” and “playing with food/utensils while eating,” but may also be related to the higher concerns of “eating too much.”

scholarly journals Lost in Learning: Hypertext Navigational Efficiency Measures Are Valid for Predicting Learning in Virtual Reality Educational Games

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Ferguson ◽  
Herre van Oostendorp
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Educational Games ◽  
Educational Game ◽  
Knowledge Test ◽  
Efficiency Measures ◽  
Unobtrusive Measure ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Cognitive Overload ◽  
Two Measures ◽  
Global And Local

The lostness measure, an implicit and unobtrusive measure originally designed for assessing the usability of hypertext systems, could be useful in Virtual Reality (VR) games where players need to find information to complete a task. VR locomotion systems with node-based movement mimic actions for exploration and browsing found in hypertext systems. For that reason, hypertext usability measures, such as “lostness” can be used to identify how disoriented a player is when completing tasks in an educational game by examining steps made by the player. An evaluation of two different lostness measures, global and local lostness, based on two different types of tasks, is described in a VR educational game using 13 college students between 14 and 18 years old in a first study and extended using 12 extra participants in a second study. Multiple Linear Regression analyses showed, in both studies, that local lostness, and not global lostness, had a significant effect on a post-game knowledge test. Therefore, we argued that local lostness was able to predict how well-participants would perform on a post-game knowledge test indicating how well they learned from the game. In-game experience aspects (engagement, cognitive interest, and presence) were also evaluated and, interestingly, it was also found that participants learned less when they felt more present in the game. We believe these two measures relate to cognitive overload, which is known to have an adverse effect on learning. Further research should investigate the lostness measure for use in an online adaptive game system and design the game system in such a way that the risk of cognitive overload is minimized when learning, resulting in higher retention of information.

P2512Effects of two different preventive counselling programs with remote support on added sugar and refined carbohydrates intake pattern in coronary patients with abdominal obesity

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
N Pogosova ◽  
A O Salbieva ◽  
O Y Sokolova ◽  
Y M Yufereva ◽  
A K Ausheva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Abdominal Obesity ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Sugar Sweetened Beverages ◽  
Added Sugar ◽  
Sweetened Beverages ◽  
Coronary Patients ◽  
Group 3 ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Refined Carbohydrates ◽  
Group 1

Abstract Background Restricting added sugar and refined carbohydrates is essential for a healthy diet, especially for overweight or obese patients (pts). Pts education has a potential to improve dietary patterns in coronary artery disease (CHD). Purpose To assess the impact of 2 preventive counselling programs with subsequent remote support resulted after hospitalization on salt intake in pts with CHD and obesity. Methods A prospective randomized parallel-group study in hospitalized nonsurgical pts with confirmed stable CHD and concomitant abdominal obesity. Most hospitalizations were due to elective percutaneous coronary intervention. Pts were randomized (1:1:1) into 3 groups. Before discharge, Groups 1 and 2 received comprehensive counselling with focus on diet followed by remote counselling by phone (Group 1) or via text messages (Group 2). Remote counselling was delivered weekly (Months 1–3) and then monthly (Months 4–6). Group 3 received standard advice only. Self-reported sugar/refined carbohydrates intake was assessed by consumption of added sugar, sugar-sweetened beverages and pastry. Results A total of 120 pts (mean age±SD, 57.75±6.25 years, men, 83.4%) were enrolled. The table presents self-reported dietary habits at baseline and at 12 months. At 1 year, significant improvements of relevant dietary habits vs control were seen in both intervention groups. Group 1 Group 2 Group 3 (control) Group 1 vs 3, Group 2 vs 3, (n=40) (n=40) (n=40) P for change from baseline P for change from baseline Amount of sugar added per cup tea or coffee, teaspoons, mean ± SD   Baseline 2.65±0.77 2.45±0.81 2.48±0.72   At 12 months 2.08±0.83** 1.95±0.64** 2.47±0.69 <0.01 <0.01 Pts avoiding sugar-sweetened beverages, %   Baseline 37.50 32.50 25.00   At 12 months 92.50** 90.00** 13.16 <0.01 <0.01 Pts restricting pastry to no more than 1–2 times a week, %   Baseline 37.5% 47.5% 57.5   At 12 months 70.0%** 72.5%** 39.47 <0.01 <0.05 **p<0.01 vs baseline within group. Conclusion Pre-discharge preventive counselling with subsequent remote support in coronary patients with abdominal obesity resulted in significant improvement of dietary habits in terms of added sugar, sugar-sweetened beverages and pastry intake.

scholarly journals Socioeconomic Disparities in Diet Vary According to Migration Status among Adolescents in Belgium

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 812 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manon Rouche ◽  
Bart de Clercq ◽  
Thérésa Lebacq ◽  
Maxim Dierckens ◽  
Nathalie Moreau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Socioeconomic Disparities ◽  
Nutrition Interventions ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Migration Status ◽  
School Aged Children ◽  
2Nd Generation ◽  
Sweetened Beverages ◽  
Culture Of Origin ◽  
Cultural Components

Little information concerning social disparities in adolescent dietary habits is currently available, especially regarding migration status. The aim of the present study was to estimate socioeconomic disparities in dietary habits of school adolescents from different migration backgrounds. In the 2014 cross-sectional “Health Behavior in School-Aged Children” survey in Belgium, food consumption was estimated using a self-administrated short food frequency questionnaire. In total, 19,172 school adolescents aged 10–19 years were included in analyses. Multilevel multiple binary and multinomial logistic regressions were performed, stratified by migration status (natives, 2nd- and 1st-generation immigrants). Overall, immigrants more frequently consumed both healthy and unhealthy foods. Indeed, 32.4% of 1st-generation immigrants, 26.5% of 2nd-generation immigrants, and 16.7% of natives consumed fish ≥two days a week. Compared to those having a high family affluence scale (FAS), adolescents with a low FAS were more likely to consume chips and fries ≥once a day (vs. <once a day: Natives aRRR = 1.39 (95%CI: 1.12–1.73); NS in immigrants). Immigrants at schools in Flanders were less likely than those in Brussels to consume sugar-sweetened beverages 2–6 days a week (vs. ≤once a week: Natives aRRR = 1.86 (95%CI: 1.32–2.62); 2nd-generation immigrants aRRR = 1.52 (1.11–2.09); NS in 1st-generation immigrants). The migration gradient observed here underlines a process of acculturation. Narrower socioeconomic disparities in immigrant dietary habits compared with natives suggest that such habits are primarily defined by culture of origin. Nutrition interventions should thus include cultural components of dietary habits.

scholarly journals Associations between beverage consumption of parents and their children. The ToyBox-study

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (OCE2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paloma Flores Barrantes ◽  
Alicia Larruy ◽  
Maria Luisa Miguel-Berges ◽  
Pilar De Miguel-Etayo ◽  
Iris Iglesia-Altaba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Role Models ◽  
Fruit Juice ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Drinking Behavior ◽  
Soft Drinks ◽  
Fruit Juices ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Sugar Sweetened Beverages ◽  
Beverage Consumption ◽  
Sweetened Beverages

AbstractIntroduction: Dietary habits are established from a very young age. Parental role modeling is an important factor influencing the eating behavior of their children. Drinking behavior may have an impact in the development of childhood obesity. This study aimed to explore the correlations of core drinking beverages between parents and their children.Materials and Methods: The present study included children of 3.5–5.5 years and their parents from the (Multifactorial evidence-based approach using behavioral models in understanding and promoting fun, healthy food, play and policy for the prevention of obesity in early childhood) ToyBox study. The study was a kindergarten-based family-involved intervention, in preschool children from six European countries: Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Poland, and Spain. For this study, we analyzed data from the baseline cross-sectional survey.Data on consumption frequency of water, homemade or fresh fruit juice, prepacked fruit juice, light beverages and sugared sweetened beverages consumption from parents and their children was obtained via a validated food frequency questionnaire. Parents were given examples of serving sizes and asked about how to self-report their usual consumption per day or week. Beverage consumption of children was reported by their parents and information about frequency and portion sizes was collected. Body weight and height of children was measured and classified according to the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF). Bivariate correlations were performed to analyze beverage consumption (servings per day) in children and their parents.Results: The studied sample included 5266 pairs of children (49.2% girls) and parents (91.7% women) that were included in the analysis.Girls presented higher correlations in water (r2 = 0,317) and sugar sweetened beverages (r2 = 0,302), whereas boys, presented slightly higher correlations of light soft drinks (r2 = 0,273), pure fruit juices (r2 = 0,308) and prepacked fruit juices (r2 = 0,324), all of them at < 0.01 level of significance. Considering boys and girls together, a slightly higher significant correlation coefficients were found between children-parents’ dyads with overweight/obesity compared to normal weight children-parentś for sugar sweetened beverages (r2 = 0,303) and light soft drinks (r2 = 0,396).Discussion: Beverage consumption of children and their parents were found to be moderately correlated. Overweight children seem to have better correlations with their parents in relation of sugar sweetened beverages and light soft drinks. Parents should encourage a healthy beverage consumption for their own health and most important, because there are key role models to their children.

Eating habits of urban youth aged 16-18

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 55-61
Author(s):  
M. Zalewska ◽  
A. Zubrycki ◽  
K. Czarniecka-Bargłowska ◽  
E Maciorkowska
Keyword(s):  
Urban Youth ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Human Growth ◽  
Late Time ◽  
Sweetened Beverages ◽  
Normal Human ◽  
Human Growth And Development ◽  
Obesity Hypertension

Introduction: Nutrition is one of the most essential factors conditioning normal human growth and development. Nutritional errors can be the basis for the emergence and development of obesity, hypertension, atherosclerosis, osteoporosis or postural defects. Purpose: The study aimed to learn about the dietary habits of urban high-school youth. Materials and methods: The study was conducted using the original questionnaire in 2013 and covered 200 students of randomly selected high schools. Results: Among the subjects, 70.8% consumed 4 or 5 meals during the day. The boys have eaten five meals significantly more often during the day than girls. The first breakfast was consumed by 76.5% of students and the second breakfast with 69.7%. Of the subjects, 80% indicated the eating between meals. The girls preferred sweets, fruit, and sandwiches, and the boys had sandwiches, sweets, and dairy drinks. The highest percentage of the examined youth ate sweets 3-4 times a week (41.6% girls and 35.6% boys). The respondents who consumed fast food once a week constituted of 60.9% of girls and 48.7% of boys. The girls consumed sweetened drinks most often once a week, and boys 3-4 times a week. Conclusions: Nutritional errors of adolescents consisted of irregular consumption of meals, late time of the last meal before bedtime, consumption of a large number of sweet and spicy snacks and sweetened beverages were found. Wrong nutrition concerned both girls and boys

Greek and Immigrant Kindergarteners’ Dietary Habits and BMI: Attica, Greece in Austere Times

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 498-510
Author(s):  
Maria Chrissini ◽  
◽  
Ioanna Tsiligianni ◽  
Dimitra Sifaki-Pistolla ◽  
Nikolaos Tzanakis
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Ethnic Origin ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Immigrant Mothers ◽  
School Year ◽  
Similarities And Differences ◽  
The Mediterranean

Objective: In this study, we assessed Greek and immigrant kindergarteners’ and their families’ body mass index (BMI), nutritional habits, and level of adherence to the Mediterranean diet during the Greek austerity period beginning in 2009. Methods: A cross-sectional study in Attica, Greece, during the school year 2016-17, enrolling 578 guardian parents and 578 kindergarteners aged ≥ 5-6 years, from 63 public kindergartens in 36 municipalities in Attica’s prefecture. Results: Immigrant mothers experienced twice as high the unemployment rate (21.3%) than Greek mothers (10.5%), with consequent degradation in food products purchasing (p = .03)(non-Greeks 54.3%, Greeks: 49.1%). BMI rates between Greeks and immigrant participants were similar, with significant variations in several lifestyle habits, including Greek parents’ heavier smoking and higher physical activity in parents of different ethnic origin. KIDMED score was “poor” in both Greek and other identity kindergarteners, with slight differences in some of the Mediterranean dietary habits and patterns; strong correlation was expressed between the child’s BMI and KIDMED score, guardian parent’s age, BMI, and overall lifestyle. Conclusions: This study could be a springboard for further research in the understudied population of native and immigrant kindergarteners, reflecting on national and international initiatives and action plans to ensure that their similarities and differences are noted.

scholarly journals PILOTING SUPPORTIVE WAYS TO EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENT SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAM ON THE EXAMPLE OF TBILISI KINDERGARTENS

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nino Labartkava ◽  
Tamar Saginadze
Keyword(s):  
School Readiness ◽  
Role Playing ◽  
First Grade ◽  
Effective Implementation ◽  
Role Playing Games ◽  
School Year ◽  
Educational Standard ◽  
Large Size ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Selection Of

In 2015, a school readiness program was created for children who will turn 5 before the start of the school year and will start studying at the first grade of school in September. The components of the school readiness program are: «School Readiness Educational Standard», a teacher’s guideline, a collection of activities describing specific activities and provided relevant supplements.The goals of the study are: Study of the course of school readiness program on the example of Tbilisi kindergartens; Based on the situation, developing methodology for effective implementation of school readiness program. The project was implemented in Tbilisi. The selection of experimental and controlled preschool institutions was based on the existence of similar infrastructure (newly built building, existence of a yard) and three or four large size school readiness groups in kindergartenAs a result of the works carried out, experimental preschool institutions have improved in the following directions: Educators conduct dialogue and ask children questions individually and in small groups; Children have the opportunity to engage in different types of activities and games (games with rules, role playing games, movable games, creative activities); Children can independently take and use learning and gaming resources; The group uses handmade and secondary resources; Group space is organized into thematic centers; The natural materials are used in the group; Children can independently take toys and resources; Educators have planned and prepared a wide variety of activities (activity, games with rules, role playing games, project) related to the topic; Educator observes children in order to evaluate them.

scholarly journals Factors Associated with Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and Dietary Habits among University Students in Lebanon

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Jennifer S. El Hajj ◽  
Sofi G. Julien
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Mediterranean Diet ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Nutritional Knowledge ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Dietary Choices ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Westernized Diet ◽  
The Mediterranean

Although the Mediterranean Diet has been acknowledged as the best overall diet for the year 2020, it has seen a decrease in its adherence over the past years. This is due to several reasons, one of which is the gradual shift to a more westernized diet with all the influences that occur especially on university students whose dietary choices set a path for future dietary habits. The aim of this study is to check the level of adherence to the Mediterranean Diet and frequency of breakfast consumption among university students in Lebanon and check whether they are influenced by sociodemographic, anthropometric, dietary knowledge, or academic data. A cross-sectional questionnaire was electronically sent to randomly selected students (210 females and 93 males) from different universities across Lebanon, aged between 18 and 25 years old. The questionnaire was filled online, and all data were self-reported. The Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED) was used as a tool to evaluate adherence to the Mediterranean Diet. The results showed that 18.8% of respondents had high adherence to the Mediterranean Diet. Students who reported always consuming breakfast and not skipping meals had significantly higher adherence to the MD. Furthermore, students with lower BMI and higher KIDMED scores had significantly more correct answers on the nutritional knowledge questions. In addition, there was a significant difference in the average KIDMED scores between different GPA categories, most notably when comparing high and poor MD adherence; students with excellent GPA scores had higher adherence to the MD than those with poor GPA scores. In conclusion, nutrition awareness in a university setting is very important since it may positively affect academic outcomes and may be the last chance to teach and engrave healthy eating patterns to a large scale of students.

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