Can nutrition education in primary school students affect dietary habits?

摘要

Objective: To investigate the impact of school nutrition education on children's dietary habits in Ardabil, Iran.Design: A 12-week intervention with nutrition education was conducted in three primary schools in Ardabil. A total of 600 female students in grades 4 and 5 (10-12 years old) were enrolled in the study and divided into an intervention group and a controlgroup. Dietary data were recorded in a food diary and the amount of different types of food consumed was noted. Data were analysed using independent and paired t-tests, and Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests.Results: The children in the intervention group reported significantly (/><0.05) increased consumption of fruit, vegetables and dairy products following education: the mean±SD number of servings of fruit and vegetables after education was 3.2±0.02 and1.02±0.03, respectively,! n the intervention group. The consumption of chips and sugar-sweetened drinks was significantly (/><0.05)decreased in intervention group children, while the consumption of oily seeds was significantly (/>=0.042) increased. There was a significant difference in the diet diversity score of the intervention group (/>=0.032) which had a mean±SD diet diversityscore of 5±0.06 groups/day. Nutrition education can affect dietary habits, such as the consumption of fruit, vegetables and dairy products, and can improve diet diversity in school students.