Promoting healthy eating and active living in schools: a pilot study
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Abstract
Highly structured school-based interventions have shown promise in reducing risk factors for obesity in children. However, challenges exist with the sustainability of these kinds of programs and little is known about the potential for less structured interventions to effect change on behaviours that underpin overweight and obesity in children.
We utilized an experimental design to test the effects of a semi-structured intervention on the lifestyle behaviours of grade 4 to 6 students at four schools. We also assessed stakeholder satisfaction with the intervention.
ANOVA found no significant differences in vegetable and fruit intake or steps taken per day between conditions (control versus intervention); suggesting that impact of the intervention on these behaviours was inconsequential. Narrative accounts provided by the stakeholders expressed satisfaction with the intervention.
This pilot study contributes to our understanding of the types of strategies likely to be efficacious in reducing the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity.