School Breakfast Policy Initiative Study
Condition: Childhood Obesity; Hunger
MeSH terms: Obesity; Pediatric Obesity
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The purpose of this study is to develop and evaluate the effects of a school breakfast policy
      initiative (SBPI) on the incidence of overweight and obesity as well as breakfast patterns
      (both inside and outside of school) among 4th-6th grade children. The study integrates
      research, education and extension to promote healthy breakfast consumption among low-income
      children in urban schools and will leverage ongoing SNAP-Ed and the School Breakfast Program
      efforts.
    

Detailed description: 
      Policy makers have promoted school breakfast participation as a tool to help prevent
      childhood obesity. No randomized controlled trials have examined the effects of a school
      breakfast feeding program on obesity. We propose to develop and evaluate a School Breakfast
      Policy Initiative (SBPI) that combines classroom feeding, in-school nutrition education,
      social marketing and parent outreach. Specifically, we will promote the benefits of a healthy
      breakfast at school or home and deter buying "breakfast" at corner stores where purchases are
      high in energy, solid fats and added sugars. This intervention will be evaluated in the "real
      world" of urban schools that make frequent use of the SNAP-Ed and the School Breakfast
      Program. The specific aims are:

        1. To develop the SBPI intervention within the context of SNAP Ed and the National School
           Breakfast Program in the School District of Philadelphia.

        2. To conduct a pilot feasibility study among 4 schools (2 intervention and 2 control) to
           assess feasibility and acceptability.

        3. To compare participants in the intervention (n=8) and comparison schools (n=8) on the
           incidence of overweight and obesity. We predict that intervention schools, compared to
           the comparison schools, will have a significantly lower incidence rate of overweight and
           obesity over a 2 y period.

        4. To compare participants in the intervention (n=8) and comparison schools (n=8) on eating
           one breakfast. We predict that intervention schools, compared to the comparison schools,
           will have significantly greater percentage of children eating one breakfast per day over
           a 2 y period.
    

Intervention name(s): Classroom feeding; Nutrition education lessons; Social Marketing; Parent outreach
Intervention type(s): Other; Behavioral; Behavioral; Behavioral
Intervention description(s): Students are fed breakfast in the classroom at the start of the school, rather than the cafeteria before school.; Students receive breakfast specific nutrition education lessons.; A social marketing campaign designed to promote consumption of one healthy breakfast a day. The marketing includes a healthy breakfast points-based reward program designed by the students and promotional campaigns.; A variety of communication methods that engage families and offer education that meets their needs, including school breakfast menus, parent newsletters, and information tables at parent-teacher meetings.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Prevention