Impact of the Cross-Curricular Education Program on Food Intake, Physical Activity, and Body Mass Index of School Children in a Local Community in Northern Serbia.

Sanja Šumonja,Marija Jevtić

doi:10.3390/children8110947

Abstract

Introduction: The trends in the state of nutrition and physical activity of school-age children in Serbia impose a need to create and evaluate programs to improve their nutrition and physical activity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the cross-curricular nutrition and physical activity education program (NPAEP) on food intake, physical activity, and body mass index in first–fourth-grade primary school children. Material and methods: The study used an experimental pre-test (t1) post-test (t2) design. The sample included 167 participants in t1 and 178 in t2. The differences in food intake, physical activity, and body mass index before and after implementation of the cross-curricular nutrition and physical activity education program were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U test, the Chi-squared test, and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Values p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: Fruit (t1 = 0.70 ± 0.55; t2 = 1.26 ± 0.65; p < 0.001) and dairy intake (t1 = 1.52; t2 = 1.79; p = 0.005) significantly increased in the intervention group. A significant reduction in time spent watching television (t1 = 78.0; t2 = 56.7; p = 0.005) and playing on the computer (t1 = 32.3; t2 = 25.8; p = 0.047) was achieved in the intervention group. Time spent in organized sports activities significantly increased only in the intervention group (t1 = 21.9; t2 = 30.5; p = 0.046). Body mass index did not change significantly in the intervention group after the implementation of the NPAEP. Conclusions: The nutrition and physical activity education program contributed to an increase in fruit and dairy intake and time spent in intense physical activities and a reduction in screen time. The presented results justify the application of the NPAEP in improving the nutrition and physical activity of first–fourth-grade primary school children.

Highlights

Improper diet and lack of physical activity are some of the most important health risk behaviors of school-aged children in Serbia as well as in other parts of Europe and the world
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the cross-curricular nutrition and physical activity education program on food intake, physical activity, and body mass index of first–fourth-grade school children in Serbia
The nutrition and physical activity education program (NPAEP) based on a cross-curricular approach contributed to a significant increase in intake of fruit, vegetables, and dairy in the intervention group

Summary

Introduction

Improper diet and lack of physical activity are some of the most important health risk behaviors of school-aged children in Serbia as well as in other parts of Europe and the world. According to the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration, there is a noticeable increase in prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents in Serbia [1]. A national study conducted in 2013 on a sample of 7–14-year-old children showed that 14.5%. Of children and adolescents were overweight and 13.7% of them were obese [2]. A more recent study of health-risk behavior in school-aged children in Serbia showed that 18.5% of adolescents are overweight and 5.7% are obese [3]. Children and adolescents in Serbia spend a significant amount of time in screen-based sedentary activities [3]. The current trends in nutritional status and physical activity of school children in Serbia indicate a need for creating and evaluating programs to improve nutrition and physical activity of school-aged children

Objectives

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion