Effect of school-based intervention on diet in high school students

Abstract

Interventions during adolescence are important for modifying risk eating behavior that contribute to the early development of obesity and other non-transmissible chronic diseases, such as the consumption of high energy-dense and low nutrient-dense foods. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a school-based intervention on the diet of high school students who study at night. Randomized controlled study conducted in 2006 in two Brazilian state capitals (Florianopolis and Recife). The intervention included multiple strategies for improving healthy eating and physical activity. Weekly frequency consumption of fruits, vegetables, dairy products, salty snacks, sweets and soft drinks, daily frequency consumption of fruits and vegetables and stages of change in fruit and vegetable consumption behavior were investigated using questionnaires. A total of 2155 students were included (mean age ± SD = 18.4 years ± 2.4) at baseline, 989 of whom remained in post-intervention. Bivariate analyses indicated greater frequency of vegetable consumption (p=0.008) and lower frequency of sweets (p=0.032) and soft drinks (p=0.003) in the intervention group compared to controls. The change in behavior was also favorable for the intervention group (p=0.016). Analysis regression showed positive effects of complying with vegetable intake recommendations (OR = 1.54 CI95%: 1.19-1.97) and favorable changes in lower sweet consumption (OR = 1.21 CI95%: 1.02-1.43) in the intervention group, compared to controls. We found positive effects on the eating habits of the students as a result of The Saúde na Boa Project.