Increasing fruit and vegetable intake among children: comparing long-term effects of a free distribution and a multicomponent program

Health Educ Res. 2008 Dec;23(6):987-96. doi: 10.1093/her/cyn027. Epub 2008 Jun 10.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of two primary school-based interventions on children's fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption on the long term (2 years after the start of the interventions). Six primary schools were recruited and randomly assigned to (i) a daily free distribution program for the whole school or (ii) a multicomponent program consisting of a classroom curriculum and parental involvement (without free F&V), and six schools served as controls. Follow-up measurements were conducted at the end of the intervention (Follow-up I) and 1 year later (Follow-up II). Random coefficient analyses for longitudinal data showed that the effects of both interventions did not differ between the two follow-up measurements. The results showed similar effects for the free distribution program and the multicomponent program in increasing children's fruit consumption over time (respectively, 7.2 and 15.2 g day(-1)). The distribution program also increased children's vegetable consumption over time (3.25 g day(-1)), even after repeating the analyses using a pessimistic scenario. Despite the large dropout and its consequences for generalizability of our results, the distribution program is considered as the preferred intervention of the two, and implementation on a larger scale should be investigated.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Child
  • Child Nutrition Sciences*
  • Diet*
  • Dietary Services / methods*
  • Feeding Behavior*
  • Fruit
  • Health Education / methods
  • Health Promotion / methods*
  • Humans
  • Netherlands
  • School Health Services
  • Schools*
  • Vegetables