P69 - Impact of a Technology-Integrated Nutrition Education Program on Low-Income Third Graders' Unhealthy Snack and Drink Intake

Abstract

Background (Background, Rationale, Prior Research, and/or Theory): Childhood obesity continues to be high, especially among racial and ethnically diverse low socio-economic (SES) children. Contributing to this epidemic is the over-consumption of energy-dense snacks (EDS) and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) among children. Most school-based nutrition education programs, including those that employ technology as a tool for learning, have been successful at increasing fruit and vegetable (FV) intake. However, there are a lack of technology-integrated nutrition education programs that target decreasing EDS and SSB intake among low-SES school-aged children. Objective: To describe the impact of a technology-integrated 13-week nutrition education program on EDS and SSB intake among racially and ethnically diverse low-SES 3rd grade students. Study Design, Setting, Participants, Intervention: A 2x2 quasi-experimental, cluster-controlled trial with 459, 3rd graders from four low-SES schools (88.9% free/reduced meals, 59.0% Hispanic and 13.7% African-American/Black). For 13 weeks, treatment students (n = 217) received a 60-minute per week program that utilized a modified version of Body Quest: Food of the Warrior (BQ) curriculum. Control students (n = 242) received no programming. Curriculum content included interactive, hands-on activities about food groups, MyPlate, FV, EDS and SSB; it also included iPad applications with BQ characters. Outcome Measures and Analysis: On weeks 1 and 13, students self-reported their previous day intake of sweet snacks, salty snacks, and SSB. Based on these responses, one variable was created: “EDS” (average intake of sweet and salty snacks). Analysis of variance and paired t-tests assessed between and within group changes. Results: There were between group differences in sweet snacks, salty snacks, and “EDS” intake whereby treatment students reduced their intake of these foods to a greater extent than the control students (P < .05). All variables improved in the treatment group (P < .05) with no significant changes in the control group. Conclusions and Implications: The program was successful at reducing unhealthy dietary behaviors that may contribute to excess weight. Future school-based programs may consider a technology-integrated curriculum focused on EDS and SSB. Funding: USDA Children, Youth and Families at Risk (CYFAR).