Víctor Arufe Giráldez1, Javier Puñal Abelenda2, Rubén Navarro-Patón3, Alberto Sanmiguel-Rodríguez4,5. 1. Education Faculty, Elviña University Campus, University of A Coruña, 15008 A Coruña, Spain. 2. CEIP Eduardo Pondal de Ponteceso, Eduardo Blanco Amor, 1, Ponteceso, 15110 A Coruña, Spain. 3. Facultad de Formación del Profesorado, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 27001 Lugo, Spain. 4. Facultad de Lenguas y Educación, Universidad Camilo José Cela, 28692 Madrid, Spain. 5. Facultad de Lenguas y Educación, Universidad Nebrija, 28015 Madrid, Spain.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: One of the great challenges facing today's society is the need to combat overweight and obesity in schoolchildren. This study aimed to analyze the impact of a cycle of didactic talks-given to families by a specialist in pediatrics, a specialist in nutrition and dietetics and a specialist in physical exercise-on childrens' snack choices and nutrition quality. METHODS: A longitudinal, quasi-experimental and quantitative investigation was designed, working with a total sample of 50 students divided into control and experimental groups. The nutritional quality of daily snacks was recorded during the month before and the month after the cycle of talks given by health experts. RESULTS: An increase in the nutritional quality of the snacks was observed in the days after the talk-but, after a week, values returned to normal. CONCLUSIONS: The giving of educational talks to promote healthy habits may have a positive impact on the nutritional quality of school snacks in the days immediately following the talks. However, some forgetfulness was detected over time, which reduced the nutritional quality of the snacks once more. For future work, it is recommended that researchers measure the impact produced by giving regular talks.
BACKGROUND: One of the great challenges facing today's society is the need to combat overweight and obesity in schoolchildren. This study aimed to analyze the impact of a cycle of didactic talks-given to families by a specialist in pediatrics, a specialist in nutrition and dietetics and a specialist in physical exercise-on childrens' snack choices and nutrition quality. METHODS: A longitudinal, quasi-experimental and quantitative investigation was designed, working with a total sample of 50 students divided into control and experimental groups. The nutritional quality of daily snacks was recorded during the month before and the month after the cycle of talks given by health experts. RESULTS: An increase in the nutritional quality of the snacks was observed in the days after the talk-but, after a week, values returned to normal. CONCLUSIONS: The giving of educational talks to promote healthy habits may have a positive impact on the nutritional quality of school snacks in the days immediately following the talks. However, some forgetfulness was detected over time, which reduced the nutritional quality of the snacks once more. For future work, it is recommended that researchers measure the impact produced by giving regular talks.
Authors: Joan C Lo; Malini Chandra; Alan Sinaiko; Stephen R Daniels; Ronald J Prineas; Benjamin Maring; Emily D Parker; Nancy E Sherwood; Matthew F Daley; Elyse O Kharbanda; Kenneth F Adams; David J Magid; Patrick J O'Connor; Louise C Greenspan Journal: Int J Pediatr Endocrinol Date: 2014-03-03