Increasing the fruit and vegetable consumption of fourth-graders: results from the high 5 project.
BACKGROUND
This study evaluated the effects of a school-based dietary intervention program to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among fourth-graders.


METHODS
Twenty-eight elementary schools were randomized to an immediate intervention condition or to a delayed intervention control condition. Measures of diet and psychosocial variables were collected at base line and 1 and 2 years post-baseline. The intervention included classroom, parent, and cafeteria components.


RESULTS
Mean daily consumption of fruit and vegetables was higher for the intervention children compared with controls at Follow-up 1 (X(t) = 3.96, X(c) = 2.28) and at Follow-up 2 (X(t) = 3.20, X(c) = 2.21). Macro- and micronutrient changes favoring the intervention children were also observed at both Follow-up 1 and Follow-up 2. Mean daily consumption of fruit and vegetables was higher for intervention parents compared with controls at Follow-up 1 (X(t) = 4.23,X(c) = 3.94) but not at Follow-up 2.


CONCLUSIONS
Strong effects were found for the High 5 intervention on fruit and vegetable consumption, on macro- and micro-nutrients, and on psychosocial variables. Future work is needed to enhance the intervention effects on parents' consumption and to test the effectiveness of the intervention when delivered by classroom teachers.
Reynolds
K D
KD
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA. reynoldsk@amc.org
Franklin
F A
FA
Binkley
D
D
Raczynski
J M
JM
Harrington
K F
KF
Kirk
K A
KA
Person
S
S
D000407:Alabama; D002648:Child; D053198:Child Nutrition Sciences / Q000193:education*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005638:Fruit / Q000592:standards*; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D012494:Sampling Studies; D014675:Vegetables / Q000592:standards*