Changing the behaviour of children living in Dutch disadvantaged neighbourhoods to improve breakfast quality: Comparing the efficacy of three school-based strategies.

Changing the behaviour of children living in Dutch disadvantaged neighbourhoods to improve breakfast quality: Comparing the efficacy of three school-based strategies. Appetite. 2019 Feb 26;: Authors: Zeinstra GG, Vingerhoeds MH, Vrijhof M, van Mourik S, Houtzager RN, van Kleef E Abstract Children's breakfast habits are suboptimal. A novel school-based education programme was developed and tested with the aim of improving children's attitude, knowledge and breakfast quality. A pre- and post-test design was used with four conditions: group-based education, role modelling, tailored feedback with goal setting, and a combination of these three delivery modes. Two hundred eighty children from disadvantaged communities (9.3 ± 0.8 years) participated in three lessons at school over a two-month period. Children's attitude, knowledge and breakfast behaviour were evaluated by a pre- and post-questionnaire completed by the children. A follow-up measure was executed at 24 weeks. The data were analysed by repeated measures ANOVA. At baseline, 90% of the children ate breakfast on the measurement day; 60-76% of the children ate breakfast daily. Between pre- and post-test, a significant time effect was found for children's attitude, self-efficacy, knowledge and behaviour (all p < 0.05). Children in the feedback condition improved most favourably: correct classification of breakfast products increased by 10 products (out of 44) and breakfa...
Source: Appetite - Category: Nutrition Authors: Tags: Appetite Source Type: research