An interventional study of Healthy school lunch in Healthy, sponsored by Erasmus Medical Center. Recruiting at 1 site in Netherlands. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2023-10-04.
Sponsored by Erasmus Medical Center · Not applicable, Interventional, and Prevention
Obesity in children is increasing over the last decades and the majority of children in Europe fails to have a healthy diet. In the Netherlands, the majority of primary schools do not provide a (healthy) school lunch. However, previous research shows some positive effects. Within the current study the investigators want to implement healthy school lunches in the city of Rotterdam, a city with a very diverse youth population. The main objective of the healthy school lunch project is to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of providing healthy school lunches.
This is a prospective, single center, intervention study using a cross-over design with 3 measurement moments to collect data on effects and feasibility. Additional feasibility data will be collected throughout the study via questionnaires for teachers.
The study population is derived from primary schools participating in the "Enjoy Being Fit!" program in the city of Rotterdam. Children (4-12 years old) from these schools are eligible to participate in this study. Children from participating primary schools will take part in observations and complete questionnaires (only grade 5 to 8). Parents and teachers will complete questionnaires.
Together with individual schools and stakeholders a healthy school-lunch concept will be developed and implemented for half a school year. Data will be collected on three time points during the school year.
Questionnaires for children and parents will focus on dietary behaviour/food intake, taste preferences, perceived health, and the satisfaction with the healthy school lunch (also for teachers). Atmosphere in the class during lessons and during lunch will be measured in questionnaires for children and teachers. The questionnaire for parents also focuses on affordability of a healthy school lunch. Observation forms will be used to score on one day what snack and lunch children bring to/get at school.
Erasmus Medical Center is the lead sponsor of 466 studies on the registry; 179 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Exclusion Criteria:
Students will bring their own lunch box in the control period.
Students will get a healthy lunch at school in the intervention period.
Other: Healthy school lunch
The healthy school lunch will be co-created together with school staff, parents, and children, and should be healthy according guidelines of the Dutch nutrition center.
Dietary content of children's lunches - assessed by an observation form
Observation of type and amount of bread, topping, drinks, fruits, vegetables, and other food products
Time frame: Three times during academic year 2023-2024: baseline/approximately 18 weeks/approximately 36 weeks
General dietary behaviour of children - assessed by a questionnaire
(consumption of breakfast, fruit, vegetable, water, sugar sweetened beverages -children and parents) Questions adapted from the GGD (Dutch municipal health service) health monitor.
Time frame: Three times during academic year 2023-2024: baseline/approximately 18 weeks/approximately 36 weeks
Perceived health of children - assessed by a questionnaire
Questions adapted from the GGD (Dutch municipal health service) health monitor: general health, in past week, in past 3 months.
Time frame: Three times during academic year 2023-2024: baseline/approximately 18 weeks/approximately 36 weeks
Taste preferences of children - assessed by a questionnaire
Self-reported questions on taste of different fruits (n=12) and vegetables (n=16). Questions adapted from the Healthy Primary School of the Future study
Time frame: Three times during academic year 2023-2024: baseline/approximately 18 weeks/approximately 36 weeks
Concentration in class - assessed by a questionnaire
Self-reported question on the ability to concentrate in class. For children reported on individual level. For teachers reported on class level.
Time frame: Three times during academic year 2023-2024: baseline/approximately 18 weeks/approximately 36 weeks
Atmosphere in class - assessed by a questionnaire
Self-reported questions on the atmosphere in class. For children reported on individual level. For teachers reported on class level.
Time frame: Three times during academic year 2023-2024: baseline/approximately 18 weeks/approximately 36 weeks
Financial situation of parents - assessed by a questionnaire
Questions adapted from the GGD (Dutch municipal health service) health monitor: difficulties making ends meet \& inability to do things due to lack of money
Time frame: During intervention arm: depending on the group either approximately 18 weeks after baseline or approximately 36 weeks after baseline
Satisfaction of the healthy school lunch - assessed by a questionnaire
Self-reported questions partly adapted from the Healthy School Lunch study and partly constructed by the research team. Satisfaction questions focused on: participation, content of lunch, organization, reasons to participate, continuation. Descriptives will be presented.
Time frame: During intervention arm: depending on the group either approximately 18 weeks after baseline or approximately 36 weeks after baseline
Demographic variables - assessed by a questionnaire
age, gender, country of birth
Time frame: Three times during academic year 2023-2024: baseline/approximately 18 weeks/approximately 36 weeks
Type of dietary requirement(s) - assessed by a questionnaire
The kind and amount of dietary requirements will be collected by using a self-reported question. Descriptives will be presented.
Time frame: Three times during academic year 2023-2024: baseline/approximately 18 weeks/approximately 36 weeks
Feasibility data on implementation and sustainability - assessed by a questionnaire
Feasibility data on implementation and sustainability will be collected via self-reported questions constructed by the research team. Questions will focus on implementation, organization, time investment, sustainability. Open answers will be analyzed qualitatively.
Time frame: Every month during academic year 2023-2024: baseline/1 month/2 months/ 3 months/ 4 months/ 5 months/ 6 months/ 7 months/ 8 months/ 9 months
Plan to share: Undecided — A data sharing statement will be finalized when known which percentage of participants consent for sharing data outside of our own organization.
Eligibility is decided by the study team. Share this record with your doctor or contact the team directly.
Contact study teamGet an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.
Erasmus Medical Center