``Pilot intervention study: food and nutrition education and psychoeducation among elementary school students in grades 4 to 6{''}

Abstract

BackgroundThe implementation of nutritional interventions could improve eating habits, contributing to the prevention of overweight and obesity in children.ObjectiveTo modify eating habits through interventions involving food and nutritional education and emotional psychoeducation among school-age children.MethodsThis longitudinal study included a sample of 635 students from four public primary schools; these students were assigned to an intervention group (IG) or a control group (CG). Anthropometric measurements were performed to determine nutritional status, and body image perception, body dissatisfaction, stress, anxiety and depression were evaluated. A 14-week intervention and a final assessment were carried out. The effect size was calculated using Cohen's ``d{''} statistic.ResultsThe general prevalence of overweight and obesity was 46.3\%. When the size of the intergroup effect of nutritional intervention was analyzed, a positive effect on fruit (d = 0.201) and dairy consumption (d = 242) was observed.ConclusionThe nutritional intervention effectively modulated school children's food consumption.