Teachers crucial to development of healthy eating habits

Brendan Day, Dental Tribune International

Fri. 30. October 2020

save

SYDNEY, Australia: When it comes to the development of children’s habits, the influence their teachers hold in this regard is clear. In a new review study out of Australia, researchers have confirmed that correct nutritional guidance provided by qualified teachers can positively impact their students’ eating habits.

Researchers from the universities of Sydney and Macquarie conducted the review, which included 34 relevant articles. These studies examined the efficacy of nutritional education programmes in elementary schools, and the researchers found that the largest effect of these programmes seemed to be the reduction of the children’s energy intake. Positive effects on the children’s consumption of fruit and vegetables and on their nutritional knowledge were also noted.

According to the researchers, prior studies on this topic have demonstrated that the effectiveness of these nutritional education programmes depends on a number of factors, chief among them being the programme’s duration as well as initiatives to engage children’s parents and families in these processes. “I think it’s fair to say that engaging parents is a key feature in the success of nutrition programmes for children,” Dr Wayne Cotton, director of teacher education at the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and co-author of the study, told Dental Tribune International (DTI).

As DTI recently reported, the oral health of Australian children is currently a cause for great concern, more than 50% of the nation’s children having experienced dental caries by 6 years of age. In addition, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that, in 2017–18, just 6% of children were eating the recommended amount of fruit and vegetables.

The study, titled “The effect of teacher-delivered nutrition education programs on elementary-aged students: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis”, was published in the December 2020 issue of Preventive Medicine Reports.

Tags:

To post a reply please login or register

Television watching habits may influence oral health, study finds

BELÉM, Brazil: Television can often play a key role in determining what foods people purchase, thanks to its high concentration of food product ...

Orthodontics offers no guarantee of long-term oral health, study finds

ADELAIDE, Australia: Research carried out at the University of Adelaide has examined the relationship between previous orthodontic treatment and improved ...

Study finds that routine the key to enhanced oral health among the elderly

GOTHENBURG, Sweden: Maintaining oral health in the ageing population is vital for quality of life, and challenges in oral care in nursing homes demand ...

Poor oral health linked to body pain and migraine in women, study finds

SYDNEY, Australia: The underlying causes of central sensitisation disorders such as migraine and fibromyalgia are poorly understood. The gut–brain axis ...

Dental radiographs pose potential hazard to human health, study finds

BRIGHTON, UK/ATLANTA, US: The incidence of thyroid cancer and meningioma is increasing globally. New research has found that repeated exposure to dental ...

New study links poor toothbrushing habits to heart disease

CHICAGO, US/LONDON, UK: A new study presented during the 2018 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions held recently has suggested that brushing ...

Want to maintain good oral health? Start eating smarter

KRIENS, Switzerland: With an estimated 743 million people affected, periodontitis is a major global health burden. The condition is usually initiated by ...

Webinar to focus on development of V3 implant

NEW YORK, U.S.: The development of the V3 implant focused on the design of the conical connection and the titanium grade of all components, providing more ...

E-cigarettes a risk to more than just oral health, study finds

CLEVELAND, U.S: The controversy over the safety of electronic cigarettes persists, and some people regard vaping as a public health epidemic. Experts have ...

Study finds British athletes have poor oral health

LONDON, UK: Though elite athletes generally possess an enviable level of physical fitness, a recent study has shown that their oral health may leave much to...

Education

On-demand
webinar