Reduction in intake of discretionary foods and drinks among Danish schoolchildren: dietary results from the real-life cluster-randomised controlled trial ‘Are You Too Sweet?’

Abstract

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of the multicomponent intervention trial ‘Are You Too Sweet?’ in reducing discretionary foods and drinks intake among young schoolchildren. Design: The study was a 3·5-month two-arm cluster-randomised controlled trial among primary schoolchildren and their families. School health nurses provided guidance to families regarding discretionary foods and drinks for the children. Moreover, families were given a variety of knowledge- and capability-building materials to utilise at home. Dietary intake was assessed using a web-based 7-d dietary record. Linear mixed regression models were used to estimate intervention effects as changes in child intake of discretionary foods and drinks and sugar between groups. Setting: Six schools from a Danish municipality were randomised to the intervention group (n 4) or the control group (n 2). Participants: A total of 153 children aged 5–7 years. Results: No significant reduction in the children’s intake of total discretionary foods and drinks or discretionary foods alone was observed between the intervention and control group, while a decreased intake of discretionary drinks of 40·9 % (P = 0·045) was observed compared with control. Secondary subgroup analysis showed that children of parents with shorter educational level significantly reduced their intake of added sugar by 2·9 E% (P = 0·002). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that multicomponent interventions involving school health nurses may have some effects in reducing, especially, discretionary drinks.

Keywords

• Child nutrition
• Family-based intervention
• Discretionary foods
• School health nurse
• Dietary guidelines