Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2013 Jun;16(6):1082-100.
doi: 10.1017/S1368980012003497. Epub 2012 Jul 31.

The implementation and effectiveness of school-based nutrition promotion programmes using a health-promoting schools approach: a systematic review

Dongxu Wang  1 , Donald Stewart
Affiliations

The implementation and effectiveness of school-based nutrition promotion programmes using a health-promoting schools approach: a systematic review

Dongxu Wang et al. Public Health Nutr. 2013 Jun.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate implementation and effectiveness of nutrition promotion programmes using the health-promoting schools (HPS) approach, to indicate areas where further research is needed and to make recommendations for practice in this field.

Design: The searched electronic databases included: CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Health Reference Center, Informit Search, MEDLINE, ProQuest, PsycINFO, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Social Services Abstracts and Web of Science. Inclusion criteria were: (i) controlled or before-and-after studies evaluating a nutrition intervention and involving the HPS approach, either fully or in part; (ii) provision of information about components and delivery of the intervention; and (iii) report on all evaluated outcomes.

Setting: Schools.

Subjects: Students, parents and school staff.

Results: All included studies described intervention delivery and six reported on process evaluation. In intervention schools school environment and ethos were more supportive, appropriate curriculum was delivered and parents and/or the community were more engaged and involved. Students participated in interventions at differing levels, but the majority was satisfied with the intervention. The evidence indicates that nutrition promotion programmes using the HPS approach can increase participants' consumption of high-fibre foods, healthier snacks, water, milk, fruit and vegetables. It can also reduce participants' 'breakfast skipping', as well as reduce intakes of red food, low-nutrient dense foods, fatty and cream foods, sweet drinks consumption and eating disorders. It can help to develop hygienic habits and improved food safety behaviours.

Conclusions: More professional training for teachers in the HPS approach, further qualitative studies, longer intervention periods, improved follow-up evaluations and adequate funding are required for future school-based nutrition promotion programmes.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flowchart for the selection of articles on health-promoting schools and health promotion in schools on nutrition
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. World Health Organization (1998) Healthy Nutrition: An Essential Element of a Health-Promoting School. Geneva: WHO.
    1. World Health Organization (2008) Towards Health-promoting Schools, pp. 2–4. New Delhi: WHO Country Office for India.
    1. Nicklas TA (2008) Position of the American Dietetic Association: nutrition guidance for healthy children ages 2 to 11 years. ADA Rep 108, 1038–1047. - PubMed
    1. Story M, Neumark-Sztainer D & Ireland MET (2000) Adolescent health and nutrition. J Am Diet Assoc 100, 362–364. - PubMed
    1. Greenstone CL (2009) Improving adolescent nutrition: an uphill battle. Am J Lifestyle Med 3, 104–105.