Reduction in intake of discretionary foods and drinks among Danish schoolchildren: dietary results from the real-life cluster-randomised controlled trial 'Are You Too Sweet?'

Abstract

To evaluate the effectiveness of the multicomponent intervention trial 'Are You Too Sweet?' in reducing discretionary foods and drinks intake among young schoolchildren. The study was a 3·5-month two-arm cluster-randomised controlled trial among primary schoolchildren and their families. School health nurses provided guidance to families regarding discretionary foods and drinks for the children. Moreover, families were given a variety of knowledge- and capability-building materials to utilise at home. Dietary intake was assessed using a web-based 7-d dietary record. Linear mixed regression models were used to estimate intervention effects as changes in child intake of discretionary foods and drinks and sugar between groups. Six schools from a Danish municipality were randomised to the intervention group (n 4) or the control group (n 2). A total of 153 children aged 5-7 years. No significant reduction in the children's intake of total discretionary foods and drinks or discretionary foods alone was observed between the intervention and control group, while a decreased intake of discretionary drinks of 40·9 % (P = 0·045) was observed compared with control. Secondary subgroup analysis showed that children of parents with shorter educational level significantly reduced their intake of added sugar by 2·9 E% (P = 0·002). The results of this study indicate that multicomponent interventions involving school health nurses may have some effects in reducing, especially, discretionary drinks.