Improving Children’s Lifestyle and Quality of Life through Synchronous Online Education: The Nutritional Adventures School-Based Program
The early introduction of effective nutritional educational programs is pivotal for instilling sustainable healthy behaviors. The present work aims to present a best practice example of a nutrition and overall lifestyle school-based training program, the Nutritional Adventures (“Diatrofoperipeteies”...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/24/5124 |
| _version_ | 1797379792466608128 |
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| author | Dimitrios V. Diamantis Almog Shalit Konstantinos Katsas Evangelia Zioga Dina Zota Christina Maria Kastorini Afroditi Veloudaki Matina Kouvari Athena Linos |
| author_facet | Dimitrios V. Diamantis Almog Shalit Konstantinos Katsas Evangelia Zioga Dina Zota Christina Maria Kastorini Afroditi Veloudaki Matina Kouvari Athena Linos |
| author_sort | Dimitrios V. Diamantis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The early introduction of effective nutritional educational programs is pivotal for instilling sustainable healthy behaviors. The present work aims to present a best practice example of a nutrition and overall lifestyle school-based training program, the Nutritional Adventures (“Diatrofoperipeteies”). Conducted during 2020–2022 in Greek primary schools, this synchronous, online educational initiative included two 1-school-hour activities with a nutrition instructor. Additionally, schools were randomly assigned to supplementary “at-home” supported-by-parents or “in-class” supported-by-educators educational activities. In total, <i>n</i> = 12,451 students of 84 primary schools participated. Parent-completed questionnaires were selected in the recruitment and post-intervention phase (40% participation rate); overall, the working sample was <i>n</i> = 1487 students. In the post-intervention phase, a significant increase in Mediterranean diet adherence was observed (KIDMED score: mean increment = 0.25 units; <i>p</i> < 0.001), particularly fruit and vegetable consumption. Time spent on physical activity increased, while screen time decreased. Students’ total quality of life significantly improved (PedsQL; mean increment = 1.35 units; <i>p</i> < 0.001), including on all of its subscales (physical, emotional, social, and school function). Supplementary educational activities that were supported by educators rather than parents yielded a more favorable impact on students’ lifestyle and quality of life. The Nutritional Adventures program can be regarded as a successful initiative in primary schools, yielding immediate advantages that extend beyond promoting healthy dietary habits. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:28:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8f0ec01ed53946a2907734235ab49e3d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:28:09Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-8f0ec01ed53946a2907734235ab49e3d2023-12-22T14:30:16ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432023-12-011524512410.3390/nu15245124Improving Children’s Lifestyle and Quality of Life through Synchronous Online Education: The Nutritional Adventures School-Based ProgramDimitrios V. Diamantis0Almog Shalit1Konstantinos Katsas2Evangelia Zioga3Dina Zota4Christina Maria Kastorini5Afroditi Veloudaki6Matina Kouvari7Athena Linos8PROLEPSIS Civil Law Non-Profit Organization of Preventive Environmental and Occupational Medicine, 15121 Athens, GreecePROLEPSIS Civil Law Non-Profit Organization of Preventive Environmental and Occupational Medicine, 15121 Athens, GreecePROLEPSIS Civil Law Non-Profit Organization of Preventive Environmental and Occupational Medicine, 15121 Athens, GreecePROLEPSIS Civil Law Non-Profit Organization of Preventive Environmental and Occupational Medicine, 15121 Athens, GreecePROLEPSIS Civil Law Non-Profit Organization of Preventive Environmental and Occupational Medicine, 15121 Athens, GreeceNutrition Department, ‘Sotiria’ Chest Diseases Hospital, 11527 Athens, GreecePROLEPSIS Civil Law Non-Profit Organization of Preventive Environmental and Occupational Medicine, 15121 Athens, GreecePROLEPSIS Civil Law Non-Profit Organization of Preventive Environmental and Occupational Medicine, 15121 Athens, GreecePROLEPSIS Civil Law Non-Profit Organization of Preventive Environmental and Occupational Medicine, 15121 Athens, GreeceThe early introduction of effective nutritional educational programs is pivotal for instilling sustainable healthy behaviors. The present work aims to present a best practice example of a nutrition and overall lifestyle school-based training program, the Nutritional Adventures (“Diatrofoperipeteies”). Conducted during 2020–2022 in Greek primary schools, this synchronous, online educational initiative included two 1-school-hour activities with a nutrition instructor. Additionally, schools were randomly assigned to supplementary “at-home” supported-by-parents or “in-class” supported-by-educators educational activities. In total, <i>n</i> = 12,451 students of 84 primary schools participated. Parent-completed questionnaires were selected in the recruitment and post-intervention phase (40% participation rate); overall, the working sample was <i>n</i> = 1487 students. In the post-intervention phase, a significant increase in Mediterranean diet adherence was observed (KIDMED score: mean increment = 0.25 units; <i>p</i> < 0.001), particularly fruit and vegetable consumption. Time spent on physical activity increased, while screen time decreased. Students’ total quality of life significantly improved (PedsQL; mean increment = 1.35 units; <i>p</i> < 0.001), including on all of its subscales (physical, emotional, social, and school function). Supplementary educational activities that were supported by educators rather than parents yielded a more favorable impact on students’ lifestyle and quality of life. The Nutritional Adventures program can be regarded as a successful initiative in primary schools, yielding immediate advantages that extend beyond promoting healthy dietary habits.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/24/5124nutritional educationschool-based programsMediterranean dietchildrenquality of life |
| spellingShingle | Dimitrios V. Diamantis Almog Shalit Konstantinos Katsas Evangelia Zioga Dina Zota Christina Maria Kastorini Afroditi Veloudaki Matina Kouvari Athena Linos Improving Children’s Lifestyle and Quality of Life through Synchronous Online Education: The Nutritional Adventures School-Based Program Nutrients nutritional education school-based programs Mediterranean diet children quality of life |
| title | Improving Children’s Lifestyle and Quality of Life through Synchronous Online Education: The Nutritional Adventures School-Based Program |
| title_full | Improving Children’s Lifestyle and Quality of Life through Synchronous Online Education: The Nutritional Adventures School-Based Program |
| title_fullStr | Improving Children’s Lifestyle and Quality of Life through Synchronous Online Education: The Nutritional Adventures School-Based Program |
| title_full_unstemmed | Improving Children’s Lifestyle and Quality of Life through Synchronous Online Education: The Nutritional Adventures School-Based Program |
| title_short | Improving Children’s Lifestyle and Quality of Life through Synchronous Online Education: The Nutritional Adventures School-Based Program |
| title_sort | improving children s lifestyle and quality of life through synchronous online education the nutritional adventures school based program |
| topic | nutritional education school-based programs Mediterranean diet children quality of life |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/24/5124 |
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