Assessment of nutritional interventions and hygiene and health habits in a cohort of primary school students

Abstract

Objective: To quantify by means of the so-called "Healthy lifestyle pyramid" and after two educational interventions, the changes in food intake, daily activities, and hygiene and health habits in the short and long terms in a cohort of healthy children. Materials and method: prospective longitudinal study with baseline assessment of dietary and lifestyle habits, and two assessments after two educational interventions. Results: 52 children participated, mean age 7.9 years, 15.4% of them being obese. There was a statistically significant reduction in whole milk intake in both the short and long term. There was a significant decrease in the short term in the intake of processed cold meat and an increase in fruit intake. There was a significant reduction in sweets intake in the short term. There was a statistically significant change in hand washing in the short and long terms, as well as in beach bathing after eating. There also was a significant change in achieving an appropriate posture and not bathing too far away, both in the long run. Finally, there was a significant change in the short term in not using inappropriate sports playing fields. The frequency at which they practise sports in the long term was significantly increased as well as the number of weekly sports, in the short term. Conclusions: After two educational interventions, the children did significant modifications of their health habits in the short term or the long term, which contributes to modify the risk factors for disease in the adulthood.