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Health and Nutrition Education in Elementary Schools: Changes in health knowledge, nutrient intakes and physical activity over a six year period

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2007

Yannis Manios  and
Anthony Kafatos
Yannis Manios*
Affiliation:
Preventive Medicine and Nutrition Clinic School of Medicine, University of Crete, PO Box 1393 Iraklio, Crete, Greece
Anthony Kafatos
Affiliation:
Preventive Medicine and Nutrition Clinic School of Medicine, University of Crete, PO Box 1393 Iraklio, Crete, Greece
*
*Corresponding author: Email: ymanios@med.uoc.gr
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Abstract

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Objective:

To examine the effects of a health and nutrition intervention, implemented in primary schools of Crete, on health knowledge, nutrient intakes and physical activity of the intervention population.

Methods:

The intervention group consisted of 24 schools while the control group consisted of 16 schools. The overall duration of the intervention was six years, while the topics of the intervention primarily focused on children' dietary habits, physical activity and fitness.

Results:

After the completion of the intervention period, the changes observed in health knowledge, nutrient intakes and physical activity were in favour of the intervention group pupils.

Conclusion:

The encouraging findings of the study indicate the potential of the programme in health promotion and disease prevention without involving substantial new school resources and time.

Keywords

ChildrenHealth educationNutrientsPhysical activity
Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 2 , Supplement 3a , March 1999 , pp. 445 - 448
Copyright
Copyright © CABI Publishing 1999

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