Effects of 2-year dietary and physical activity intervention on cognition in children-a nonrandomized controlled trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether a combined dietary and physical activity intervention could improve cognition in children and whether changes in diet quality, physical activity, and sedentary behavior were associated with cognitive changes.
Results Summary
The intervention had no effect on cognition, but improved diet quality (increased Baltic Sea Diet Score, low-fat milk consumption, decreased red meat and sausages) and increased organized sports and reading were associated with improved cognition. Unsupervised physical activity, computer use, and writing were negatively associated with cognition.
Population
504 children aged 6-9 years at baseline.
Effective Dosage
Six dietary counseling sessions (30-45 min each) and six physical activity counseling sessions (30-45 min each) over 2 years.
Duration
2 years
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
combined dietary and PA intervention | no change | cognition | children aged 6-9 years | no significant change | had no effect | #1 |
increased Baltic Sea Diet Score (BSDS) | increase | cognition | children aged 6-9 years | - | were associated with improved | #2 |
increased consumption of low-fat milk | increase | cognition | children aged 6-9 years | - | was associated with improved | #3 |
decreased consumption of red meat and sausages | decrease | cognition | children aged 6-9 years | - | was associated with improved | #4 |
increased organized sports | increase | cognition | children aged 6-9 years | - | was positively associated with | #5 |
increased sedentary time (ST) | increase | cognition | children aged 6-9 years | - | was positively associated with | #6 |
increased reading | increase | cognition | children aged 6-9 years | - | was positively associated with | #7 |
increased unsupervised PA | decrease | cognition | children aged 6-9 years | - | was negatively associated with | #8 |
increased computer use | decrease | cognition | children aged 6-9 years | - | was negatively associated with | #9 |
increased writing | decrease | cognition | children aged 6-9 years | - | was negatively associated with | #10 |
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effects of a combined dietary and PA intervention on cognition in children and whether changes in diet quality, PA, sedentary behavior (SB), and sedentary time (ST) are associated with changes in cognition. METHODS: We conducted a 2-year nonrandomized controlled trial in 504 children aged 6-9 years at baseline. The children were allocated to a combined dietary and PA intervention group (n = 237) or a control group (n = 160) without blinding. INTERVENTIONS: The children and their parents allocated to the intervention group had six dietary counseling sessions of 30-45 min and six PA counseling sessions of 30-45 min during the 2-year intervention period. The children were also encouraged to participate in after-school exercise clubs. Cognition was assessed by the Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices. We assessed dietary factors by 4 days food records and computed the Baltic Sea Diet Score (BSDS) as a measure of diet quality. PA and ST were assessed by a combined heart rate and body movement monitor, types of PA and SB by a questionnaire. RESULTS: The intervention had no effect on cognition. Increased BSDS and consumption of low-fat milk and decreased consumption of red meat and sausages were associated with improved cognition over 2 years. Increased organized sports, ST, and reading were positively, while unsupervised PA, computer use, and writing were negatively associated with cognition. CONCLUSION: Combined dietary and PA intervention had no effect on cognition. Improved diet quality and increased organized sports and reading were associated with improved cognition.