Reducing Young Schoolchildren’s Intake of Sugar-Rich Food and Drinks: Study Protocol and Intervention Design for “Are You Too Sweet?” A Multicomponent 3.5-Month Cluster Randomised Family-Based Intervention Study

Sidse Marie Sidenius Bestle, Bodil Just Christensen, Ellen Trolle, Anja Pia Biltoft-Jensen, Jeppe Matthiessen, Sarah Jegsmark Gibbons, Bjarne Kjær Ersbøll and Anne Dahl Lassen
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Sidse Marie Sidenius Bestle: Division of Food Technology, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet Building 201, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
Bodil Just Christensen: Division of Food Technology, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet Building 201, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
Ellen Trolle: Division of Food Technology, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet Building 201, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
Anja Pia Biltoft-Jensen: Division of Food Technology, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet Building 201, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
Jeppe Matthiessen: Division of Food Technology, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet Building 201, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
Sarah Jegsmark Gibbons: Division of Food Technology, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet Building 201, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
Bjarne Kjær Ersbøll: Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
Anne Dahl Lassen: Division of Food Technology, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet Building 201, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 24, 1-20

Abstract: A high consumption of sugar-rich discretionary food and drinks has several health implications, which have been traced from childhood into adulthood. Parents act as primary mediators shaping children’s dietary habits, and interventions that engage parents have shown to result in positive outcomes. Further, collaboration with local school health nurses and dentists provides an effective structural frame to support behaviour change and anchor new initiatives. The multicomponent 3.5-month cluster randomised family-focused intervention “Are you too Sweet?” aims to evaluate the effectiveness of communicating new Danish guidelines for sugar-rich discretionary food and drinks for school starters (5–7 years). This paper describes the development, outcomes and process evaluation of the intervention that includes three main components: extended dialogue during a school health nurse consultation, a box with home-use materials, and a social media platform to facilitate interaction among participants. Children ( n = 160) and their parents were scheduled for a baseline interview at six different schools. The intervention was developed to increase self-efficacy, knowledge about guidelines, observational learning and reduce impediments for behavioural change. The desired primary outcome was a reduction in intake of sugar-rich food measured through a 7-day dietary record. The results contribute to the evidence on effective health promotion strategies.

Keywords: sugar-rich food; discretionary food; SSBs; family-based intervention; social cognitive theory; dietary guidelines (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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