Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2020; 128(02): 111-118
DOI: 10.1055/a-0661-1919
Article
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Positive Effects of Practical Nutrition Lessons in a Primary School Setting with a High Proportion of Migrant School Children

Katharina S. Weber
1   Institute for Clinical Diabetology, German Diabetes Center at Heinrich Heine University, Leibniz Institute for Diabetes Research, Düsseldorf, Germany
2   German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), München-Neuherberg, Germany
,
Jessica Eitner
1   Institute for Clinical Diabetology, German Diabetes Center at Heinrich Heine University, Leibniz Institute for Diabetes Research, Düsseldorf, Germany
2   German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), München-Neuherberg, Germany
3   Department of Nutritional Science and Home Economics, Faculty of Food, Nutrition and Hospitality Sciences, Hochschule Niederrhein, University of Applied Sciences, Mönchengladbach, Germany
,
Laura Dauben
1   Institute for Clinical Diabetology, German Diabetes Center at Heinrich Heine University, Leibniz Institute for Diabetes Research, Düsseldorf, Germany
2   German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), München-Neuherberg, Germany
,
Olaf Spörkel
1   Institute for Clinical Diabetology, German Diabetes Center at Heinrich Heine University, Leibniz Institute for Diabetes Research, Düsseldorf, Germany
2   German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), München-Neuherberg, Germany
,
Klaus Strassburger
2   German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), München-Neuherberg, Germany
4   Institute for Biometrics and Epidemiology, German Diabetes Center at Heinrich Heine University, Leibniz Institute for Diabetes Research, Düsseldorf, Germany
,
Jörn Sommer
5   InterVal GmbH, Berlin, Germany
,
Barbara Kaiser
6   Federal Centre for Nutrition (BZfE), Bonn, Germany
,
Anette E. Buyken
7   Institute of Nutrition, Consumption and Health, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University Paderborn, Germany
,
Peter Kronsbein
3   Department of Nutritional Science and Home Economics, Faculty of Food, Nutrition and Hospitality Sciences, Hochschule Niederrhein, University of Applied Sciences, Mönchengladbach, Germany
,
Karsten Müssig
1   Institute for Clinical Diabetology, German Diabetes Center at Heinrich Heine University, Leibniz Institute for Diabetes Research, Düsseldorf, Germany
2   German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), München-Neuherberg, Germany
8   Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
› Author Affiliations
Funding: The intervention was funded by the health insurances IKK classic and Kaufmännische Krankenkasse – KKH, diabetesDE – German Diabetes Aid, and Sports Department of the state capital city Düsseldorf.

Trial registration: German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS-ID: DRKS00005119. Registered 10 July 2013 (retrospectively registered).
Further Information

Publication History

received 05 May 2018
revised 09 July 2018

accepted 17 July 2018

Publication Date:
03 August 2018 (online)

Abstract

Background Children with migration background are at increased risk for overweight, partly due to less favorable dietary habits compared to their German counterparts. We examined the effects of practical nutrition lessons among children with a high proportion of migration background in a primary school setting.

Methods Ten 3rd and 4th grade classes (n=166 children, 73% with migration background) received the intervention and nine school classes (n=139 children, 76% with migration background) served as control. Before, shortly after (only among the intervention group) and three months after the three-day practical nutrition lessons, the nutrition-related skills, behavior, attitudes, and knowledge of the children were assessed using a questionnaire. Changes between baseline and 1st follow-up among children of the intervention group were calculated using linear mixed models. Differences between the two groups for changes between baseline and 2nd follow-up were tested using linear regression analyses. Models were adjusted for potential confounders.

Results Shortly after the practical nutrition lessons, the children of the intervention group had improved their knowledge (β=1.7; 95% CI: 1.0; 2.4, P<0.001) and skills (β=1.8; 95% CI: 1.4; 2.2, P<0.001). These changes were sustainable and larger in the intervention compared to the control group (knowledge: β=1.6; 95% CI: 0.7; 2.5, P<0.001; skills: β=1.3; 95% CI: 0.7; 1.9, P<0.001). Changes in nutrition-related behavior and attitudes did not differ between the groups.

Conclusions Providing practical nutrition lessons in a primary school setting with a high proportion of children with immigrational background improved the children’s nutrition-related knowledge and skills.

Supplementary Material

 
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