School-based nutrition programs produced a moderate increase in fruit and vegetable consumption: meta and pooling analyses from 7 studies.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate, through study- and individual-level analyses of data from 7 studies, the effectiveness of school-based nutrition interventions on child fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption.


METHODS
To find original studies on school-based nutrition interventions, the authors searched electronic databases from 1990 to 2002. First authors of the 13 eligible studies were contacted to request their data. Data from 7 studies were received for inclusion in this pooled analysis.


METHODS
Schools.


METHODS
8156 children were matched from pretest to posttest. Participants were primarily elementary school-aged (75.5%) and white (66%), and 50.4% were males.


METHODS
Net FV difference and net FV relative change (%).


METHODS
Data were analyzed at both the study and individual levels. A fitted multivariable fixed-effects model was used to analyze the role of potential covariates on FV intake. Statistical significance was set at alpha = .05.


RESULTS
At the individual level, the net difference in FV consumption was 0.45 (95% CI 0.33-0.59) servings; the net relative change was 19% (95% CI 0.15-0.23) servings.


CONCLUSIONS
School-based nutrition interventions produced a moderate increase in FV intake among children. These results may have implications for chronic disease prevention efforts, including cardiovascular disease and cancer.
Howerton
Mollie W
MW
Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
Bell
B Sue
BS
Dodd
Kevin W
KW
Berrigan
David
D
Stolzenberg-Solomon
Rachael
R
Nebeling
Linda
L
D002648:Child; D053198:Child Nutrition Sciences / Q000193:education*; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011322:Primary Prevention; D012574:Schools; D014675:Vegetables