The effect of introducing a free breakfast club on eating habits among students at vocational schools
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The effect of introducing a free breakfast club on eating habits among students at vocational schools. / Christensen, Camilla Berg; Mikkelsen, Bent Egberg; Toft, Ulla.
In: BMC Public Health, Vol. 19, No. 1, 369, 03.04.2019.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - The effect of introducing a free breakfast club on eating habits among students at vocational schools
AU - Christensen, Camilla Berg
AU - Mikkelsen, Bent Egberg
AU - Toft, Ulla
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2019 The Author(s).
PY - 2019/4/3
Y1 - 2019/4/3
N2 - Background: Unhealthy eating habits are a major problem among adolescents. The objective of the study was to assess the effect of a free breakfast club intervention on dietary habits among students at vocational schools. Methods: The study included students (n = 318) from four vocational schools in Denmark. Food frequency questionnaires were used to measure eating habits at baseline, first, and second follow-up, after 7 and 14 weeks respectively, in a clustered randomized controlled intervention of four months. The effect of the intervention was evaluated through self-reported frequencies of breakfast intake, intake of whole grain products for breakfast and intake of unhealthy snacking in the morning. The outcome measures were daily breakfast intake (yes/no), daily intake of whole grain for breakfast (yes/no), and unhealthy snacking on school day mornings (yes/no). Results: The proportion of students who had breakfast every school day increased significantly in the intervention schools from baseline to the first follow-up compared to the control group (OR: 3.77; P = 0.0149). The effect was attenuated at the second follow-up. The intake of whole grain products for breakfast increased significantly more among students in intervention schools compared to students in control schools both at first (OR: 4.13; P = 0.0079) and second follow-up (OR: 3.27; P = 0.0317). No significant change in unhealthy snacking was found. Conclusion: Provision of free breakfast at vocational schools can improve the dietary quality of breakfast and decrease breakfast skipping. However, the sustainability of the intervention is a critical issue that needs to be further studied and addressed. Trial registration: ISRCTN11265280. Registered 20 November 2018 (retrospectively registered).
AB - Background: Unhealthy eating habits are a major problem among adolescents. The objective of the study was to assess the effect of a free breakfast club intervention on dietary habits among students at vocational schools. Methods: The study included students (n = 318) from four vocational schools in Denmark. Food frequency questionnaires were used to measure eating habits at baseline, first, and second follow-up, after 7 and 14 weeks respectively, in a clustered randomized controlled intervention of four months. The effect of the intervention was evaluated through self-reported frequencies of breakfast intake, intake of whole grain products for breakfast and intake of unhealthy snacking in the morning. The outcome measures were daily breakfast intake (yes/no), daily intake of whole grain for breakfast (yes/no), and unhealthy snacking on school day mornings (yes/no). Results: The proportion of students who had breakfast every school day increased significantly in the intervention schools from baseline to the first follow-up compared to the control group (OR: 3.77; P = 0.0149). The effect was attenuated at the second follow-up. The intake of whole grain products for breakfast increased significantly more among students in intervention schools compared to students in control schools both at first (OR: 4.13; P = 0.0079) and second follow-up (OR: 3.27; P = 0.0317). No significant change in unhealthy snacking was found. Conclusion: Provision of free breakfast at vocational schools can improve the dietary quality of breakfast and decrease breakfast skipping. However, the sustainability of the intervention is a critical issue that needs to be further studied and addressed. Trial registration: ISRCTN11265280. Registered 20 November 2018 (retrospectively registered).
KW - Adolescents
KW - Breakfast club
KW - Eating habits
KW - Health promotion
KW - Low socioeconomic status
KW - Randomised controlled trial
KW - School meals
U2 - 10.1186/s12889-019-6701-9
DO - 10.1186/s12889-019-6701-9
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 30943941
AN - SCOPUS:85063971551
VL - 19
JO - BMC Public Health
JF - BMC Public Health
SN - 1471-2458
IS - 1
M1 - 369
ER -
ID: 345860838