0000000001109141
AUTHOR
Knut-inge Klepp
Changes in screen time activity in Norwegian children from 2001 to 2008: two cross sectional studies
Background There has been an increase in screen-based communication, leading to concerns about the negative health effects of screen-based activities in children and adolescents. The present study aimed to (1) analyze changes in screen time activity in Norwegian children from 2001 to 2008, and (2) to analyze associations between the changes in screen time activity over time and sex, grade level and parental educational level. Methods Within the project Fruits and Vegetables Make the Marks (FVMM), 1488 6th and 7th grade pupils from 27 Norwegian elementary schools completed a questionnaire including a question about time spent on television viewing and personal computer use in 2001 and 1339 p…
Additional file 1: of Tracking of fruit, vegetables and unhealthy snacks consumption from childhood to adulthood (15â year period): does exposure to a free school fruit programme modify the observed tracking?
CONSORT flow chart (word-file). (DOC 53 kb)
Additional file 3: of Tracking of fruit, vegetables and unhealthy snacks consumption from childhood to adulthood (15â year period): does exposure to a free school fruit programme modify the observed tracking?
Table: Difference between drop-outs and respondents by group (word-file). (DOCX 19 kb)
One year of free school fruit in Norway-7 years of follow-up
Background It is important that health-promoting efforts result in sustained behavioural changes, preferably throughout life. However, only a very few intervention studies evaluate long term follow up. Objective The aim of the present study is to evaluate the overall and up to seven years effect of providing daily one piece of fruit or vegetable (FV) for free for one school year. Methods A total of 38 randomly drawn elementary schools from two counties in Norway participated in the Fruit and Vegetables Make the Marks project. Baseline (2001) and follow-up surveys were conducted in May 2002, 2005 and 2009 (n = 320 with complete data) to assess FV and unhealthy snack intake. Mixed models were…
Introduction of a school fruit program is associated with reduced frequency of consumption of unhealthy snacks.
Background: A diet high in fruit and vegetables (FV) is inversely related to chronic diseases, and some studies suggest that increasing the intake of FV reduces the intake of unhealthy snacks. Objectives: The objectives were to analyze changes in the frequency of consumption of unhealthy snacks (soda, candy, and potato chips) from 2001 to 2008 in Norwegian children, to assess whether being part of a school fruit program reduces the frequency of unhealthy snack consumption, and to explore differences in sex and socioeconomic status. Design: Within the project Fruits and Vegetables Make the Marks, 1488 sixth- and seventh-grade pupils from 27 Norwegian elementary schools completed a questionna…
Additional file 4: of Tracking of fruit, vegetables and unhealthy snacks consumption from childhood to adulthood (15 year period): does exposure to a free school fruit programme modify the observed tracking?
Table: Overall difference mean/percentage between 1 ≥ missing and no missing within the intervention and control group (word-file). (DOCX 16 kb)
Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and artificially sweetened beverages from childhood to adulthood in relation to socioeconomic status – 15 years follow-up in Norway
Background In Norway, social inequalities in health and health-related behaviors have been reported despite the well-developed welfare state. The objective of the present study was to analyze; (i) the development in frequency of consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) and artificially sweetened beverages (ASB) from childhood to adulthood; (ii) socioeconomic inequalities in the consumption of SSB and ASB using different indicators of socioeconomic status (SES); (iii) time trends in potential disparities in SSB and ASB consumption among different socioeconomic groups to assess the development in socioeconomic inequality from childhood to adulthood. Methods This study uses data from the…
Evidence-based development of school-based and family-involved prevention of overweight across Europe: The ENERGY-project's design and conceptual framework
Background There is an urgent need for more carefully developed public health measures in order to curb the obesity epidemic among youth. The overall aim of the "EuropeaN Energy balance Research to prevent excessive weight Gain among Youth" (ENERGY)-project is the development and formative evaluation of a theory-informed and evidence-based multi-component school-based and family-involved intervention program ready to be implemented and evaluated for effectiveness across Europe. This program aims at promoting the adoption or continuation of health behaviors that contribute to a healthy energy balance among school-aged children. Earlier studies have indicated that school and family environmen…
The effect of an extra piece of fruit or vegetables at school on weight status in two generations - 14 years follow-up of the Fruit and Vegetables Makes the Marks study
Background: The obesity epidemic presents a major public health challenge, and a poor diet quality has been identified as one of the most important contributing factors. Whereas a sufficient fruit and vegetable consumption has been associated with several positive health outcomes, the long-term effect on overweight and obesity is unclear. Thus, the aims of this study were to investigate if one year with free school fruit had any effect on weight status 14 years later, and if it affected the birth weight of the participants’ children. Methods: In 2001, 10 -12-year old Norwegian children, received one year of free school fruit in the intervention study “Fruits and Vegetables Make the Marks” (…
Changes in beverage consumption in Norwegian children from 2001 to 2008
AbstractObjectiveTo analyse (i) differences in beverage pattern among Norwegian children in 2001 and 2008; (ii) beverage intake related to gender, parental education and family composition; and (iii) potential disparities in time trends among the different groups.DesignWithin the Fruits and Vegetables Make the Marks (FVMM) project, 6th and 7th grade pupils filled in a questionnaire about frequency of beverage intake (times/week) in 2001 and 2008.SettingTwenty-seven elementary schools in two Norwegian counties.SubjectsIn 2001 a total of 1488 and in 2008 1339 pupils participated.ResultsBetween 2001 and 2008, a decreased consumption frequency of juice (from 3·6 to 3·4 times/week, P = 0·012), l…
Why do parents' education level and income affect the amount of fruits and vegetables adolescents eat?
Background: There are large socioeconomic disparities in food behaviours. The objective of the present study is to longitudinally explore socioeconomic disparities in adolescents’ fruit and vegetable (FV) intake and to assess mediators of the disparity. Methods: A longitudinal study containing 896 adolescents from 20 randomly selected elementary schools within two Norwegian counties (response rate 84%). Questionnaires were administered in May 2002 (mean age 12.5 years) and again in May 2005. FV intake was measured by four food frequency questions (times/week). Socioeconomic status was based on parents’ reports of their own educational level and family income (both dichotomized). Data were a…
Effect of the nationwide free school fruit scheme in Norway.
In Norway, children and adolescents consume only about half of the national five-a-day recommendation. There are also rather large social inequalities in health, and in eating behaviours. In order to increase fruit and vegetable (FV) intake, a subscription programme was initiated in 1996 and made nationwide in 2003, and a free programme (without parental payment) has been implemented nationwide from 2007. The objective of the present study is to evaluate the effect of these efforts. Pupils in the sixth and seventh grades (age 10–12 years) at twenty-seven schools responded to a questionnaire in 2001 (n 1488, 85 %) and in 2008 (n 1339, 78 %). FV intake was measured by a 24-h recall. In 2001, …
Consumption of vegetables at dinner in a cohort of Norwegian adolescents.
Abstract This longitudinal study examined the frequency of consumption of vegetables for dinner by Norwegian adolescents and their parents. Associations of perceived availability, correlations and stability were explored. The longitudinal cohort consist of 1950 adolescents attending 6th/7th (2002) and 9th/10th (2005) grade, and their parents (n = 1647). Only 40% of the adolescents and 60% of the adults reported to have eaten vegetables for dinner yesterday, the reported frequency of vegetables for dinner were 3.7 and 4.1 times/week in 2002 and 2005, respectively, and 4.8 times/week for parents. Girls ate more than boys, and high SES adolescents ate more than low SES adolescents. There were …
A comprehensive multicomponent school-based educational intervention did not affect fruit and vegetable intake at the 14-year follow-up
Abstract The intake of fruit and vegetables is associated with beneficial health outcomes, and studies aimed at increasing fruit and vegetable intake lack long-term follow-up. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the long-term (14-year) effects of a multicomponent school-based educational intervention targeted to increase fruit and vegetable intake in children. The secondary objective was to evaluate the potential synergistic effect between free school fruit and the educational program. A cluster randomized school-based intervention was initiated in 2001 in Norway, known as the Fruit and Vegetable Make the Marks study. In total, 38 schools were randomized; for the interventio…
Longitudinal associations of energy balance-related behaviours and cross-sectional associations of clusters and body mass index in Norwegian adolescents
AbstractBackgroundInsight into the role of energy balance-related behaviours (EBRB) is of great importance when it comes to prevention of weight gain and design of interventions tailored to target these behaviours.ObjectivesFirst, the present study examines the longitudinal association of four EBRB in Norwegian adolescents. Second, it aims to examine whether clusters of EBRB are cross-sectionally associated with being overweight.DesignThe present study is part of the ‘Fruits and Vegetables Make the Marks’ project. The study sample consists of twenty control schools in two Norwegian counties.MethodsSurvey questionnaires were completed by 884 pupils with an average age at baseline, September …
Tracking of fruit, vegetables and unhealthy snacks consumption from childhood to adulthood (15 year period): does exposure to a free school fruit programme modify the observed tracking?
Background The rationale for promoting increased consumption of fruit and vegetables (FV) at an early age is based on results from previous tracking-studies, indicating that dietary habits learned in childhood sustain into adulthood. Previous tracking studies have several limitations (e.g. low study sample, few repeated measurements and/or short a follow-up period). In addition, to our knowledge, no study has shown that a dietary intervention initiated in childhood affects tracking of dietary behaviour. The main objectives in this study were therefore to assess tracking of FV and unhealthy snacks in a large sample with multiple follow-up surveys over 15-years, and whether exposure to free s…
Free school fruit: can an extra piece of fruit every school day contribute to the prevention of future weight gain? A cluster randomized trial
Background: Several school fruit programs are initiated with the aim to improve diet and thereby contribute to reduce the prevalence of overweight. To date, no published studies have demonstrated that school fruit schemes do prevent overweight.Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess if increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, due to free school fruit, have an impact on future weight status.Design: An intervention study including 10- to 12-year-old children from nine schools in two Norwegian counties (Hedmark and Telemark) participating in the Norwegian School Fruit Program for free during the school year 2001/2002 and children from 29 control schools. Follow-up studies …
Additional file 2: of Tracking of fruit, vegetables and unhealthy snacks consumption from childhood to adulthood (15â year period): does exposure to a free school fruit programme modify the observed tracking?
First page of both questionnaires (24â h-recall and FFQ) (PDF-file). (PDF 7 kb)
Changes in 10-12 year old's fruit and vegetable intake in Norway from 2001 to 2008 in relation to gender and socioeconomic status - a comparison of two cross-sectional groups
Published version of an article in the journal: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. Also available from the publisher BMC: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1479-5868-8-108. Open Access BACKGROUND:Norwegian children and adolescents eat less than half of the recommended 5 portions of fruit and vegetables (FV) per day. Gender and socioeconomic disparities in FV consumption shows that boys and children of lower socioeconomic status (SES) eat less FV than girls and high SES children. We also know that accessibility and preferences has been identified as two important determinants of FV intake. The objectives of this study were to compare FV intake among Norwegian 6th an…
Free Fruit for School Children to Improve Food Quality
A diet high in fruits and vegetables (FV) is inversely related to several chronic diseases [1], and an increased intake would improve diet quality and global public health [2]. In Norway, children and adolescents consume only about half of the national five-a-day recommendation [3]. As food preferences and habits established in childhood to a large extent tend to be maintained into adulthood [4, 5], and in order to achieve maximum prevention potential, it is important to get children to eat more FV. It is also important that effective efforts conducted to increase children’s FV intake result in sustained elevated FV intakes, preferably throughout life, in order to have maximum health preven…
Effect of Ending the Nationwide Free School Fruit Scheme on the Intake of Fruits, Vegetables, and Unhealthy Snacks in Norwegian School Children Aged 10–12 Years
The Norwegian authorities started a nationwide free school fruit program in 2007, implemented in all secondary schools (grades 8–10) and combined schools (grades 1–10) in Norway. The program ended in 2014. This study evaluates the effect of ending the nationwide free school fruit program on the consumption of fruit, vegetables, and unhealthy snacks among Norwegian sixth and seventh graders. The study sample consists of pupils at 18 schools that participated in all data collections in the Fruits and Vegetables Make the Marks project (FVMM), initiated in 2001, with new data collections in 2008 and 2018. Four of the schools were combined schools, therefore children in sixth and seventh grade a…
Changes in meal pattern among Norwegian children from 2001 to 2008
AbstractObjectiveThe present study aimed to analyse changes in meal pattern among Norwegian children from 2001 to 2008 in general; to analyse associations between meal pattern and gender, parental educational level and number of parents in the household; and to analyse the association between intake of unhealthy snacks, meal pattern and the mentioned variables.DesignWithin the Fruits and Vegetables Make the Marks (FVMM) project, two cross-sectional studies were conducted, one in 2001 and one in 2008, where participants from the same schools filled in a questionnaire on meals eaten the previous day.SubjectsParticipants were 6th and 7th grade pupils, n 1488 in 2001 and n 1339 in 2008.SettingT…
Effects of 1 y of free school fruit on intake of fruits, vegetables, and unhealthy snacks: 14 y later
Background There are not many studies evaluating the long-term effects of fruit and vegetable interventions. Objective We examined the effects of 1 y of free fruit in elementary school on long-term consumption of fruit, vegetables, and unhealthy snacks, according to sex and educational attainment, 14 y after the intervention period. Design In 2001, the baseline survey of the longitudinal cohort, Fruits and Vegetables Make the Marks (FVMM), included 1950 children (mean age: 11.8 y) attending 38 randomly drawn elementary schools from 2 counties in Norway. In the following 10 mo, 9 schools served as intervention schools by participating in the Norwegian School Fruit Program for free, whereas 2…