Nutrition Knowledge Of Children Research Articles

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice on Infant and Young Child Feeding: A Comparative Study of Radio Listening Club Members and Non-Members of Mudzi Wathu Community Radio in Mchinji District, Malawi

The current case-control study was conducted in Mchinji district in order to evaluate current infant and young child nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) of radio listeners club (RLC) members and non-RLC members and also to determine if the frequency of listening to Mudzi Wathu Community Radio is directly related to improved knowledge, attitudes and perceptions(KAP) of RLC members. Further, the study examined whether or not community radio listeners club members were more knowledgeable in IYCF nutrition than non-RLC respondents with the purpose of assessing the effectiveness of disseminating nutrition information through mass media in general and through radio in particular and the benefits of having community radio listening clubs on improvement of KAP in communities.Key words: Attitude, Knowledge, Practice, Radio, Radio Listening Club, community radio, Mudzi Wathu

P65 - Factors Influencing Childcare Providers' Engagement of Parents Regarding Child Nutrition

Background (Background, Rationale, Prior Research, and/or Theory): The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, parents, childcare directors, and health consultants agree that nutrition education is instrumental to improving children's and families' nutrition knowledge and eating behavior (Benjamin Neelon & Briley, 2011; Gupta et al., 2005). More recent research, however, has demonstrated that childcare providers often report challenges to engaging parents in topics about their children's nutrition (Lyn et al., 2014; Stage et al., 2017). Objective: To determine the factors influencing childcare providers' engagement with parents regarding child nutrition in childcare centers (CCCs) and family childcare homes (FCCHs). Study Design, Setting, Participants, Intervention: This was a cross-sectional, quantitative study on CCCs and FCCHs in Nebraska. CCC directors (n = 337) and FCCH providers (n = 1,153) completed self-administered surveys. Outcome Measures and Analysis: The dependent variable was parent engagement. Fifteen variables were examined as predictors for parent engagement—barriers to communication, participation in Go Nutrition and Physical Self- Assessment in Child Care (Go NAP SACC), National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accreditation, participation in Quality Ratings and Improvement Systems (QRIS), feeding practices, professional development regarding child nutrition, and child-provider ratio. Structural equation modeling was conducted to examine the relation between variables for CCCs and for FCCHs. Results: For CCC's, NAEYC accreditation, providers' barriers regarding parents' cultural beliefs about food that are not always consistent with healthy eating, parents not liking the taste of healthy foods, and parents prioritizing other food related topics (allergies or children's food intake) significantly predicted parent engagement. For FCCHs, participation in Go NAP SACC, perceiving parents as busy, not wanting to offend parents, and practicing family style dining were significantly related to parent engagement. For both CCCs and FCCHs, professional development regarding child nutrition was related to parent engagement. Conclusions and Implications: Focusing professional development on childcare contexts and addressing providers' barriers may improve parent engagement. Funding: USDA.

Maternal nutritional knowledge and its association with iron deficiency anemia in children

Background: Young children are more prone to the development of Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA). The most important factor of IDA in children is maternal nutritional knowledge because mothers are the sole source for providing diets to their children. Therefore, this study was intended to assess the maternal knowledge of child nutrition, hemoglobin (Hb) status of children and effect of maternal knowledge of anemia on its prevalence in children.
 Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of anemia in young children. In total, 143 pairs of children (2 – 10 years) along with their mothers were randomly selected. Data was collected by conducting interviews from mothers, using a structured questionnaire for their knowledge on child nutrition. Portable hemoglobinometer was used for identifying the Hb status of children. Data was analyzed using Statistical Project of Social Science (SPSS) version 22.
 Result: It was evaluated that 4 out of 5 children were anemic. Out of total participant in the study, 7.69% of mothers were found to have a poor nutritional knowledge and all of their children were anemic. Approximately 63.64% mothers had average knowledge and 86.8% of their children were anemic while the rest were okay. Moreover, 28.67% of mothers with high nutritional knowledge had 58.5% anemic children and the rest was fine. The relationship between maternal nutrition knowledge and Hb level of children was highly significant (p<0.001).
 Conclusion: Maternal knowledge about nutrition is associated with the prevalence of anemia in their children and it is one of the major modifiable factors.

Feed the Alien! The Effects of a Nutrition Instruction Game on Children's Nutritional Knowledge and Food Intake.

Serious games are a promising venue to increase children's nutritional knowledge in an entertaining format. The aim of this study was to test the short-term effectiveness of the Alien Health Game, a videogame designed to teach elementary school children about nutrition and healthy food choices. To examine the effects of the Alien Health Game, an experimental design with a single between-subjects factor (experimental condition vs. active control condition) was used. A total of 108 Dutch children (10-13 years; 58 boys) were randomly assigned to either play Alien Health using the Kinect sensor for two consecutive days, for 1 hour of gameplay (experimental condition; n = 50), or a web-based nutrition game for the same period (active control condition; n = 58). Participants' nutritional knowledge was assessed at pretest, immediate, and at 2-week follow-up. Food intake was assessed at immediate and 2-week follow-up. Participants who played Alien Health had better knowledge of the five most important macronutrients of foods at immediate posttest, but not at follow-up. Participants were better able to distinguish the healthier food item out of two options over time, but this effect did not differ for those in the experimental versus the active control condition. No differences in food intake, neither in the consumption of nutrient-dense or energy-dense foods, were found between children playing both games. A brief game-based intervention like the Alien Health Game has the potential to improve children's nutritional knowledge in the short term, but may not be strong enough to increase nutritional knowledge and actual eating behavior in the long term. Further investigation is warranted before this game is applied in future nutrition education programs.

Kader Kesehatan Sebagai Konselor Gizi Anak

Lack of adequate nutrition intake not only affects the disruption of growth and development of children but can further impact on increased risk of morbidity and mortality of children. In 2016, the number of children under five in Slarang Village is 1056 toddlers and 63 (5.96%) of them are malnourished. One of the efforts to overcome the problem is through the role of health cadres. But with the number of Poyandu 11 Posyandu and 55 health cadres, the role of cadres in promotive efforts is still lacking. Observations conducted at 4 posyandu showed that the cadres were only responsible for recording and weighing. Based on the interviews, the cadres found that children's nutrition knowledge is still lacking, they can not counsel properly and there is no cadre handbook.Community service activities have been implemented with the results have been compiled pocket book nutrition cadres. The number of participants was 19 cadres, the cadre's knowledge about children's nutrition had increased from 61,8 average to 93,7 and had been monitored activity to see the cadre skill in giving nutrition counseling of children through visit to 6 posyandu where 11 cadres conducted skill evaluation nutritional counseling of children with a checklist of more than 70.

Culinary-Nutrition Camp for Kids and its Impact on Knowledge and Self-Efficacy

After reading the abstract, participants will be able to identify an evaluation tool for use in a culinary-nutrition camp to measure changes in attitude and nutrition knowledge in children.

Effects of selected socio-demographic characteristics on nutrition knowledge and eating behavior of elementary students in two provinces in China

BackgroundNational and international child health surveys have indicated an increase in childhood obesity in China. The increase has been attributed to a rising standard of living, increasing availability of unhealthy foods, and a lack of knowledge about healthy diet. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of selected socio-demographic characteristics on the BMI, nutrition knowledge, and eating behavior of elementary school children.MethodsMultistage stratified cluster sampling was used. Information on demographics, nutrition knowledge, and eating behavior was gathered by means of questionnaires. The schools’ doctors provided the height and weight data. The study was set in one economically advantaged and one economically disadvantaged province in China. The participants were Grade 3 students, ages 8–10 years (N = 3922).ResultsA cluster analysis identified four socio-demographic variables distinguished by parental education and family living arrangement. A one-way ANOVA compared differences among the clusters in BMI, child nutrition knowledge, and child eating behavior. Students in the cluster with lowest parent education level had the lowest nutrition knowledge scores and eating behavior scores. There was no significant benefit from college education versus high school education of parents in the other three clusters. BMI was not affected by parent education level.ConclusionThe nutrition status of elementary school age children will benefit most by increasing the general level of education for those adults who are presently least educated.

Behavior change communication activities improve infant and young child nutrition knowledge and practice of neighboring non-participants in a cluster-randomized trial in rural Bangladesh.

ObjectiveTo examine the impact on infant and young child nutrition knowledge and practice of mothers who were neighbors of mothers participating in a nutrition Behavior Change Communication (BCC) intervention in rural Bangladesh.MethodsWe analyzed data from 300 mothers whose neighbor participated in a nutrition BCC intervention and 600 mothers whose neighbor participated in an intervention that did not include BCC. We constructed measures capturing mothers’ knowledge of infant and young child nutrition (IYCN) and measures of food consumption by children 6-24m. The effect on these outcomes of exposure to a neighbor receiving a nutrition BCC intervention was estimated using ordinary least squares and probit regressions. The study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (Study ID: NCT02237144).ResultsHaving a neighboring mother participate in a nutrition BCC intervention increased non-participant mothers’ IYCN knowledge by 0.17 SD (translating to 0.3 more correct answers). They were 14.1 percentage points more likely to feed their 6-24m children legumes and nuts; 11.6 percentage points more likely to feed these children vitamin A rich fruits and vegetables; and 10.0 percentage points more likely to feed these children eggs. Children of non-participant mothers who had a neighboring mother participate in a nutrition BCC intervention were 13.8 percentage points more likely to meet World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for minimum diet diversity, 11.9 percentage points more likely to meet WHO guidelines for minimum acceptable diet, and 10.3 percentage points more likely to meet WHO guidelines for minimum meal frequency for children who continue to be breastfed after age 6m. Children aged 0-6m of non-participant mothers who are neighbors of mothers receiving BCC were 7.1 percentage points less likely to have ever consumed water-based liquids.ConclusionsStudies of nutrition BCC that do not account for information spillovers to non-participants may underestimate its benefits in terms of IYCN knowledge and practice.

Relationship between nutrition knowledge and dietary intake among primary school children in Japan: Combined effect of children's and their guardians' knowledge.

BackgroundImproving the dietary habits of children is important to decrease the future burden of noncommunicable diseases. While various food education programs have been implemented worldwide, evaluation of nutrition knowledge is difficult, even at baseline. Further, the relationship between nutrition knowledge and dietary intake has not been clarified in non-western countries.MethodsAfter developing nutrition knowledge questionnaires for Japanese primary school children and adults, we examined whether higher nutrition knowledge of children and their guardians was associated with better dietary intake in children. A total of 1210 children in four public primary schools and 319 guardians were included in this cross-sectional study.ResultsNutrition knowledge questionnaires were developed for children in lower and higher grades and adults. Higher nutrition knowledge of the children was significantly associated with higher vegetable intake (p for trend = 0.024 for boys and <0.0001 for girls in lower grades, <0.0001 for boys and 0.020 for girls in higher grades). Higher nutrition knowledge of the guardians was also associated with higher vegetable intake, except for boys in higher grades. The relationship between guardians' nutrition knowledge and intake of staple foods and fruits in children differed by children's sex.ConclusionsWe developed nutrition knowledge questionnaires for Japanese children and adults and identified a relationship between higher nutrition knowledge and healthier dietary habits. The child's own nutrition knowledge of dietary intake might be as important as that of the guardian for some foods. Sex differences in the effect of nutrition knowledge should receive greater attention in food education.

Media exposure and parental mediation on fast-food consumption among children in metropolitan and suburban Indonesia

Fast-food companies have been reproached for rising obesity levels due to aggressive marketing tactics targeted at children. They have countered that parents should be held responsible considering their critical role as nutritional gatekeepers. This study examined the comparative effects of media exposure and parental mediation on Indonesian children's fast food consumption and how the effects compare in the metropolitan versus suburban areas. The sample consisted of 394 child-mother pairs comprising grade three and four children and their mothers from two schools each in Jakarta and Bogor representing 40.9% metropolitan sample and 59.1% suburban sample, respectively. The children completed a guided inclass survey, while the mothers completed a paper-and-pen survey at home. Measures comprised children's weekly media exposure to broadcast media, computer and mobile games, print media, and online and social media, active and restrictive parental mediation strategies, children's fast food consumption and nutrition knowledge. The relationship of media exposure and parental mediation with children's fast food consumption was analyzed using Structural Equation Modelling. Fast food consumption was positively influenced by exposure to broadcast media among metropolitan children, and by exposure to online and social media among suburban children. Active parental mediation was related to lower fast food consumption, but only for suburban children. Active parental mediation is critical in preventing fast food consumption. The media play a key role in influencing fast food consumption, and hence, literacy education is important to alleviate the adverse effects of exposure to junk food marketing.

Adolescent girls' infant and young child nutrition knowledge levels and sources differ among rural and urban samples in Bangladesh.

In many low‐income countries, girls marry early and have children very soon after marriage. Although conveying infant and young child nutrition (IYCN) knowledge to adolescent girls in time is important to ensure the well‐being of their children, little is known about the best ways to convey these messages. This study examines the extent of, and sources from which adolescent girls derive IYCN knowledge in order to inform the design of programmes that convey such information. Data on adolescent girls aged 12–18 was collected in 2013 in 140 clusters of villages in rural areas (n = 436), and 70 clusters of slums in urban areas (n = 345) in Bangladesh. Data were analysed using multivariable Poisson regression models. In both the urban and rural samples, girls' schooling is positively and significantly associated with IYCN knowledge (P < 0.01 and P < 0.10, respectively). IYCN knowledge of adolescent girls' mothers is also associated with adolescents' IYCN knowledge in both urban and rural samples, but the magnitude of association in the urban sample is only half that of the rural sample (P < 0.01 and P < 0.10, respectively). In Bangladesh, efforts to improve knowledge regarding IYCN are typically focused on mothers of young children. Only some of this knowledge is passed onto adolescent girls living in the same household. As other messaging efforts directed towards mothers have only small, or no association with adolescent girls' knowledge of IYCN, improving adolescent girls' IYCN knowledge may require information and messaging specifically directed towards them. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Giocampus school: a “learning through playing” approach to deliver nutritional education to children

To improve nutritional knowledge of children, single-group educational interventions with pre/post knowledge assessment were performed in primary schools in Parma, Italy, participating to the Giocampus Program. A total of 8165 children (8–11 years old) of 3rd, 4th and 5th grades of primary school were involved in 3 hours per class nutritional lessons, with specifically designed games and activities for each school grade. To evaluate children learning, a questionnaire was administered before and after three months of educational intervention. A total of 16330 questionnaires were analysed. Children nutritional knowledge significantly increased (p< 0.001) in all school grades. The integrated "learning through playing" approach, including the educational figures, tools and games, was successful in improving children's nutritional knowledge. A stable integration of this method in primary school settings could prepare a new generation of citizens, better educated on health-promotion lifestyles.

Exploring the moderating effect of children's nutritional knowledge on the relationship between product evaluations and food choice

ObjectiveAlthough the last decade has seen multiple attempts to increase consumers' nutritional knowledge in expectation that this will result in healthier diets, extant knowledge about the influence of nutritional knowledge on children's food choices remains scarce due to mixed empirical evidence and limited inquiry into the role of product evaluations on the consumption of less healthy foods. Furthermore, no research has examined whether nutritional knowledge can effectively moderate the relationship between product evaluations and food consumption, leaving a gap in our knowledge about potentially effective intervention strategies to curb childhood obesity. MethodUsing survey data from children aged 7–13 years and their parents (N = 354) recruited at an annual fair visited by families in South Australia, regressions were performed to examine how product evaluations are associated with the consumption of less healthy foods and whether nutritional knowledge reduces the strength of these associations at different ages (7–8 years, 9–10 years, and 11–13 years). ResultsWhile children did not view fast foods to be fun or healthy, there was a positive association between appealing taste, perceived social acceptability and consumption of less healthy foods. Higher nutritional knowledge weakened the relationship between product evaluations and consumption in children younger than 11. Parents with higher nutritional knowledge had children who tended to consume less healthy foods less frequently. Although older children (11–13 years) possessed higher nutritional knowledge, it was not associated with their consumption; instead, taste and perception of social acceptability were the only factors associated with frequent consumption of less healthy products. ConclusionPractitioners are encouraged to test intervention strategies that concentrate on both product evaluations and nutritional knowledge to provide more effective outcomes. Further research about peer norms that endorse unhealthy eating is encouraged to facilitate a more comprehensive approach to unhealthy eating.

Food advertising, children's food choices and obesity: interplay of cognitive defences and product evaluation: an experimental study.

To investigate the role of product evaluations, nutritional and persuasion knowledge on children's food choices conducted because of limited evidence about the role of product evaluations on consumer choices in conjunction with cognitive defences. A randomised controlled 2 × 2 factorial experiment with an exposure to a food and a control (toy) advertisement conducted in a non-laboratory setting at an annual event traditionally visited by families. Children aged 7-13 years with biometric/weight data representative of the general Australian population. Height and weight (converted into body mass index z-scores) measured in addition to children's nutritional and persuasion knowledge, product evaluations, age and gender. The factors that undermine children's cognitive defences relate to taste, social appeal of foods and low nutritional and persuasion knowledge. An interplay between the above-mentioned factors was also observed, identifying four groups among young consumers, alluding to a complex and at times impulsive nature of children's decisions: (1) knowledgeable children with less positive product evaluations choosing a healthy snack; (2) knowledgeable but hedonism-oriented children seeking peer conformity choosing an advertised product; (3) knowledgeable children who chose a snack belonging to the same product category; and (4) less knowledgeable children with positive product evaluations and low nutritional knowledge choosing snacks from the advertised product category. Obese children were more likely to belong to a cluster of less knowledgeable and hedonism-oriented children. The problem of consumption of less healthy foods is complex and multiple factors need to be considered by health practitioners, social marketers and parents to address the issue of childhood obesity. Nutritional knowledge alone is not sufficient to ensure children make healthier food choices and emphasis should also be placed on persuasion knowledge education, targeting of peer norms, self-efficacy and stricter regulation of advertising aimed at children.

Training Program for Home Visitation Educators for the HomeStyles Childhood Obesity Prevention Program

To describe the training program developed for home visitors (non-nutrition professionals) involved in the in-home delivery mode of HomeStyles, a childhood obesity prevention education intervention. Home Visitors (HVs) who conduct in-home visits with high-risk families with young children. Social Cognitive and Adult Learning Theories, and Faith’s Core Behavior Change Strategies guide HomeStyles. Motivational Interviewing strategies are used to promote behavior change. HVs completed 13 ∼10-minute online training videos to build their child nutrition knowledge base prior to attending the 17-hour face-to-face training program. This program addressed these key components: need for obesity prevention programs that help parents reshape home environments and lifestyles to promote optimal child health, overview of HomeStyles program (theoretical underpinnings, instructional strategies, components [guides, trackers, nudges, enhancements, website]), rationale and evidence-base supporting key HomeStyles messages presented in the guides, and HVs’ role in recruiting and supporting families in the HomeStyles randomized controlled trial. An array of instructional techniques, including role playing, games, discussion, demonstrations, and guided practice sessions were used to enhance HVs’ knowledge level, self-confidence in presenting key HomeStyles messages and using program materials, ability to use motivational interviewing techniques, and skills for measuring parent and child heights and weight. After the training, participants (n=89) completed an online survey to assess satisfaction with training and confidence in their abilities to implement the HomeStyles program. HVs indicated they enjoyed the training, believed HomeStyles would positively benefit families, and felt they had the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to implement HomeStyles with families they serve.

융합교육 '영양 플러스사업' 후 영양지식과 태도의 변화

본 연구는 A 광역시 저소득층을 대상으로 수행되어진 영양 플러스사업이 영유아 부모의 교육수준에 따라 사업 효과의 차이를 확인하고자 융합 교육 측면에서 접근하였다. 조사대상자는 부모의 교육수준(고졸이하, 대졸이상)을 고려하여 영양교육 전후 평가가 동일한 시기에 이루어진 총 263명 중 영아 61명, 유아 192명과 그 부모이다. 부모의 교육 수준에 따라 영유아 영양 교육 전과 후의 영양지식 및 식생활 태도는 대졸 이상 그룹에서 모두 높은 점수를 보였다. 그러나 교육 전에 비해 교육 후 유아의 식생활 태도는 고졸이하인 그룹이 <TEX>$6.57{\pm}6.51$</TEX>, 대졸이상인 그룹이 <TEX>$4.57{\pm}6.09$</TEX>로 오히려 고졸 이하 그룹의 점수 증가 폭이 더 크게 상승하였다(p=0.03). 결론적으로 융합 교육 측면에서 접근해 볼 때 영양플러스사업은 저소득층 영유아의 성장 및 부모의 영양 지식과 식생활 태도에 긍정적인 영향을 주었다. This study in A City was performed to target low-income families in NutriPlus Program, infants toddlers for parents' convergence education effects were analyzed. The subjects of the study was involved in parents' education level can be identified. During the same period before and after the evaluation of nutrition education to a total of 263 people were targeted. It is comprised of the infants of 61 and of the toddler 192. nutrition education, dietary life attitude of infants after the increase in the width of the scores were as follows : Less than high school group was <TEX>$6.57{\pm}6.51$</TEX>, Greater than college group was <TEX>$4.57{\pm}6.09$</TEX> a, rather less than high school group showed a large increasing rate, which was statistically significant (p = 0.03). NutriPlus Program is growing due to low-income families to improve children's nutritional status and nutrition knowledge and dietary life attitude will have a positive impact on, part of convergence education. In addition, parents' education level, depending on, varied and effective nutritional education should be taken.

RE-AIM analysis of a randomized school-based nutrition intervention among fourth-grade classrooms in California.

Childhood overweight and obesity are major health problems. School-based programs enable intervening with large groups of children, but program overall health impact is rarely completely assessed. A RE-AIM (Reach, Efficacy, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance) analysis tested the overall public health impact of the fourth-grade "Nutrition Pathfinders" school-based nutrition-education program. A randomized controlled trial in 47 fourth-grade California classrooms (1713 students) tested program efficacy, and a secondary analysis of archival data tested program dissemination. Desired effects were seen in child nutrition knowledge, attitudes, consumption of low-nutrient high-density foods, sugar-sweetened beverages, proteins, grains, and parent willingness to serve new foods. The program was disseminated to ∼25% of public school fourth-grade classrooms in California and cost about $1.00 per student to implement. The Nutrition Pathfinders program demonstrates potential for moderate to high public health impact due to its wide dissemination, effectiveness in altering attitudes and behaviors, and its relatively inexpensive cost of implementation.

Early Childhood Obesity Prevention in Low-Income, Urban Communities

Given the disproportionately high rates of obesity-related morbidity among low-income, ethnic minority youth, obesity prevention in this population is critical. Prior efforts to curb childhood obesity have had limited public health impact. The present study evaluates an innovative approach to obesity prevention by promoting foundational parenting and child behavioral regulation. This pre–post intervention study evaluated an enhanced version of ParentCorps with 91 families of pre-Kindergarten students in low-income, urban communities. Assessments included tests of knowledge and parent report. Consistent with findings from two randomized controlled trials of ParentCorps, parent knowledge and use of foundational parenting practices increased and child behavior problems decreased. Child nutrition knowledge and physical activity increased and television watching decreased; for boys, sleep problems decreased. Comparable benefits occurred for children at high risk for obesity based on child dysregulation, child overweight, and parent overweight. Results support a “whole child,” family-centered approach to health promotion in early childhood.

Associations between predictors of children's dietary intake and socioeconomic position: a systematic review of the literature

Socioeconomically disadvantaged children are at higher risk of consuming poor diets, in particular less fruits and vegetables and more non-core foods and sweetened beverages. Currently the drivers of socioeconomically related differences in children's dietary intake are not well understood. This systematic review explored whether dietary predictors vary for children of different socioeconomic circumstances. Seven databases and reference lists of included material were searched for studies investigating predictors of 9-13-year-old children's diet in relation to socioeconomic position. Individual- and population-based cross-sectional, cohort and epidemiological studies published in English and conducted in developed countries were included. Twenty-eight studies were included in this review; most were conducted in Europe (n = 12) or North America (n = 10). The most frequently used indicators of socioeconomic position were parent education and occupation. Predictors of children's dietary intake varied among children of different socioeconomic circumstances. Socioeconomic position was consistently associated with children's nutrition knowledge, parent modelling, home food availability and accessibility. Indeterminate associations with socioeconomic position were observed for parent feeding practices and food environment near school. Differences in the determinants of eating between socioeconomic groups provide a better understanding of the drivers of socioeconomic disparities in dietary intake, and how to develop targeted intervention strategies.

School-based obesity prevention intervention in Chilean children: effective in controlling, but not reducing obesity.

Objective. To evaluate the effectiveness of a 12-month multicomponent obesity prevention intervention. Setting. 9 elementary schools in Santiago, Chile. Subjects. 6–8 y old low-income children (N = 1474). Design. Randomized controlled study; 5 intervention/4 control schools. We trained teachers to deliver nutrition contents and improve the quality of PE classes. We determined % healthy snacks brought from home, children's nutrition knowledge, nutritional status, duration of PE classes, and % time in moderate/vigorous activity (MVA). Effectiveness was determined by comparing Δ BMI Z between intervention and control children using PROCMIXED. Results. % obesity increased in boys from both types of schools and in girls from control schools, while decreasing in girls from intervention schools (all nonsignificant). % class time in MVA declined (24.5–16.2) while remaining unchanged (24.8–23.7%) in classes conducted by untrained and trained teachers, respectively. In boys, BMI Z declined (1.33–1.24) and increased (1.22–1.35) in intervention and control schools, respectively. In girls, BMI Z remained unchanged in intervention schools, while increasing significantly in control schools (0.91–1.06, P = 0.024). Interaction group ∗ time was significant for boys (P < 0.0001) and girls (P = 0.004). Conclusions. This intervention was effective in controlling obesity, but not preventing it. Even though impact was small, results showed that when no intervention is implemented, obesity increases.