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Health and nutrition education program in primary schools of Crete: changes in blood pressure over 10 years

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 61, pages 837–845 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To examine the long-term effects of the ‘Cretan Health and Nutrition Education Program’ on blood pressure.

Subjects:

A representative population of 176 pupils (85 from the intervention schools and 91 from the control schools).

Design:

Blood pressure, dietary, anthropometrical and physical activity data were obtained at baseline (academic year 1992–1993) and at follow-up examination (academic year 2001–2002).

Results:

The findings of the current study revealed that the increase over the 10-year period in systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was higher in the control group (CG) than in the intervention group (IG) (P=0.003 and P<0.001 respectively). Regarding dietary indices, the IG were found to have a significantly higher intake of potassium (P=0.018) and magnesium (P=0.011) compared to the CG. Furthermore, the decrease in body mass index (BMI) z-score observed in the IG was found to differentiate significantly from the increase observed in the CG (P=0.042). On the contrary, the increase in leisure time, moderate to vigorous physical activities (MVPA) observed in the IG, was found to differentiate significantly from the decrease observed in the CG (P=0.032). Intervention's effect on SBP was mediated by changes in MVPA (β=−0.20, P=0.030) and BMI (β=0.19, P=0.048). Similarly, intervention's effect on DBP was mediated by changes in MVPA (β=−0.18, P=0.048), BMI (β=0.26, P=0.007) and magnesium intake (β=−0.20, P=0.048).

Conclusion:

The findings of the current study are encouraging, indicating favorable changes in blood pressure, micronutrients intake, BMI and physical activity over the 10 years of follow-up and 4 years after program's cessation, thus providing some support for the effectiveness of school-based health education programs in successfully tackling certain chronic disease risk factors early in life.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by a research grant from Kellogg Europe, the Greek Ministry of Sports and the Greek Ministry of Education.

The Preventive Medicine & Nutrition Clinic Research Team include: Apostolaki Ioanna, Bervanaki Froso, Codrington Caroline, Flouri Sofia, Hatzis Christos, Kiriakakis Michalis, Linardakis Manolis, Mamalakis George, Markatji Irini, Sarri Katerina and Tsimbinos George.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nutrition & Dietetics, Harokopio University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    I Kafatos & Y Manios

  2. Preventive Medicine and Nutrition Clinic, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Crete, Greece

    J Moschandreas & A Kafatos

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Correspondence to A Kafatos.

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Kafatos, I., Manios, Y., Moschandreas, J. et al. Health and nutrition education program in primary schools of Crete: changes in blood pressure over 10 years. Eur J Clin Nutr 61, 837–845 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602584

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