TY - JOUR
T1 - Design of the OPUS School Meal Study
T2 - A randomised controlled trial assessing the impact of serving school meals based on the New Nordic Diet
AU - Damsgaard, Camilla Trab
AU - Dalskov, Stine-Mathilde
AU - Petersen, Rikke A
AU - Sørensen, Louise B
AU - Mølgaard, Christian
AU - Biltoft-Jensen, Anja
AU - Andersen, Rikke
AU - Thorsen, Anne
AU - Tetens, Inge
AU - Sjödin, Anders
AU - Hjorth, Mads F
AU - Vassard, Ditte
AU - Jensen, Jørgen D
AU - Egelund, Niels
AU - Dyssegaard, Camilla Brørup
AU - Skovgaard, Ib
AU - Astrup, Arne
AU - Michaelsen, Kim F.
N1 - IHE 2012 034
PY - 2012/12
Y1 - 2012/12
N2 - Introduction: Danish children consume too much sugar and not enough whole grain, fish, fruit, and vegetables. The Nordic region is rich in such foods with a strong health-promoting potential. We lack randomised controlled trials that investigate the developmental and health impact of serving school meals based on Nordic foods. Aim: This paper describes the rationale, design, study population, and potential implications of the Optimal well-being, development and health for Danish children through a healthy New Nordic Diet (OPUS) School Meal Study. Methods: In a cluster-randomised cross-over design, 1021 children from 3rd and 4th grades (8–11 years old) at nine Danish municipal schools were invited to participate. Classes were assigned to two 3-month periods with free school meals based on the New Nordic Diet (NND) or their usual packed lunch (control). Dietary intake, nutrient status, physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, sleep, growth, body composition, early metabolic and cardiovascular risk markers, illness, absence from school, wellbeing, cognitive function, social and cultural features, food acceptance, waste, and cost were assessed. Results: In total, 834 children (82% of those invited) participated. Although their parents were slightly better educated than the background population, children from various socioeconomic backgrounds were included. The proportion of overweight and obese children (14%) resembled that of earlier examinations of Danish school children. Drop out was 8.3%. Conclusions: A high inclusion rate and low drop out rate was achieved. This study will be the first to determine whether school meals based on the NND improve children’s diet, health, growth, cognitive performance, and early disease risk markers.
AB - Introduction: Danish children consume too much sugar and not enough whole grain, fish, fruit, and vegetables. The Nordic region is rich in such foods with a strong health-promoting potential. We lack randomised controlled trials that investigate the developmental and health impact of serving school meals based on Nordic foods. Aim: This paper describes the rationale, design, study population, and potential implications of the Optimal well-being, development and health for Danish children through a healthy New Nordic Diet (OPUS) School Meal Study. Methods: In a cluster-randomised cross-over design, 1021 children from 3rd and 4th grades (8–11 years old) at nine Danish municipal schools were invited to participate. Classes were assigned to two 3-month periods with free school meals based on the New Nordic Diet (NND) or their usual packed lunch (control). Dietary intake, nutrient status, physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, sleep, growth, body composition, early metabolic and cardiovascular risk markers, illness, absence from school, wellbeing, cognitive function, social and cultural features, food acceptance, waste, and cost were assessed. Results: In total, 834 children (82% of those invited) participated. Although their parents were slightly better educated than the background population, children from various socioeconomic backgrounds were included. The proportion of overweight and obese children (14%) resembled that of earlier examinations of Danish school children. Drop out was 8.3%. Conclusions: A high inclusion rate and low drop out rate was achieved. This study will be the first to determine whether school meals based on the NND improve children’s diet, health, growth, cognitive performance, and early disease risk markers.
U2 - 10.1177/1403494812463173
DO - 10.1177/1403494812463173
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 23108477
SN - 1403-4948
VL - 40
SP - 693
EP - 703
JO - Acta socio-medica Scandinavica
JF - Acta socio-medica Scandinavica
IS - 8
ER -