The Effect of Nutrition Education Implemented in School-aged Children

Objective To evaluate the effects and approaches of nutrition education implemented in primary school children.Methods One thousand two hundred and twenty-six pupils, drawn from 2 primary schools using cluster-sampling method, were randomly divided into pupil education group, pupil and parent education group, and control group. Nutrition education interventions in different forms were implemented in two education groups for 3 monthes. A questionnaire survey and a dietary survey were conducted to collect information on the changes in knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of pupils regarding nutrition and the change in dietary constituents before and after nutrition education.Results Pupils in two education groups got higher scores in nutritional knowledge, and dietary behaviors of pupils in pupil and parent group improved significantly after intervention in comparison to the control group.Conclusions School-based nutritional education implemented among pupils and their parents is an effective measure in improving eating behaviors of school-aged children; however, approaches should be in accordance with age characteristics of children.