Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Article
  • Published:

A randomized controlled trial of the effect of school food and dining room modifications on classroom behaviour in secondary school children

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 65, pages 32–38 (2011)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

Adequate nutrition is considered important for learning, but there is little robust research on the association between diet and learning in school-aged children in industrialized countries. This study investigated the effect of tailored modifications to the food and dining experience in secondary schools on learning-related behaviours.

Subjects/Methods:

In 2008, 12 co-educational secondary schools in England were recruited. Schools were randomly allocated to receive a tailored action plan and support to modify their food provision and dining environment over a 15-week period (intervention or to control). Learning-related behaviours were systematically observed during post-lunchtime classes at all schools. Observations were made by trained observers using a validated protocol to determine whether pupils were ‘on-task’ (concentrating and alert) or ‘off-task’ (disruptive or disengaged).

Results:

In total, 156 pupils were observed (control n=58, intervention n=98) at baseline (12 210 and 20 560 observations, control and intervention, respectively) and at follow-up (16 846 and 23 462, respectively). On-task and off-task behaviours were similar across treatment groups at baseline. At follow-up, intervention group pupils were 18% more likely to be on-task (odds ratio (OR) 1.18, 95% confidence interval ((95% CI) 1.05–1.33) and 14% less likely to be off-task (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.75–0.98) compared with control group pupils.

Conclusions:

This study suggests that modifying food provision and the dining environment can improve learning-related behaviours of secondary school pupils in the post-lunch period. This finding supports ongoing investment and interventions by local authorities across the United Kingdom to improve school food and lunchtime dining facilities.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alaimo K, Olson CM, Frongillo EA (2001). Food insufficiency and American school-aged children's cognitive, academic and psychosocial development. Pediatrics 108, 44–53.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Archambault I, Janosz M, Morizot J, Pagani L (2009). Adolescent behavioural, affective and cognitive engagement in school: relationship to dropout. J School Health 79, 408–415.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baines E, Blatchford P, Kutnick P (2003). Grouping practices in classrooms: changing patterns over primary and secondary schooling. Int J Educ Res 39, 9–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barros RM, Silver EJ, Stein REK (2009). School recess and group classroom behaviour. Pediatrics 123, 431–436.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benton B, Stevens MK (2008). The influence of a glucose containing drink on the behavior of children in school. Biol Psychol 78, 242–245.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blatchford P, Baines E, Rubie-Davies C, Bassett P, Chowne A (2006). The effect of a new approach to group work on pupil-pupil and teacher-pupil interactions. J Educ Psychol 98, 750–765.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell M, Fitzpatrick R, Haines A, Kinmonth AL, Sandercock P, Spiegelhalter D et al. (2000). Framework for design and evaluation of complex interventions to improve health. BMJ 321, 694–696.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chomitz VR, Slining MM, McGowan RJ, Mitchell SE, Dawson GF, Hacker KA (2009). Is there a relationship between physical fitness and academic achievement? Positive results from public school children in the Northeastern United States. J School Health 79, 30–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dalton A, Wolmarans P, Witthuhn RC, van Stuijvenberg ME, Swanevelder SA, Smuts CM (2009). A randomised control trial in schoolchildren showed improvement in cognitive function after consuming a bread spread, containing fish flour from a marine source. Prostagland Leukot Essent Fatty Acids 80, 143–149.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dickie NH, Bender AE (1982). Breakfast and performance in school children. Br J Nutr 48, 483–496.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ells LJ, Hillier FC, Shucksmith J, Crawley H, Harbige L, Shield J et al. (2008). A systematic review of the effect of dietary exposure that could be achieved through normal dietary intake on learning and performance of school-aged children of relevance to UK schools. Br J Nutr 100, 927–936.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fleiss JL (1981). Statistical Methods for Rates and Proportions, 2nd edn. John Wiley: New York, pp 38–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flook L, Repetti RL (2005). Classroom social experiences as predictors of academic performance. Dev Psychol 41, 319–327.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Florence MD, Asbridge M, Veugelers PJ (2008). Diet quality and academic performance. J School Health 78, 209–215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foresight (2007). Tackling Obesities: Future Choices-Project Report. Government Office for Science: London.

  • Gietzen D, Vermeersch JA (1980). Health status and school achievement of children from head start and free school lunch programs. Public Health Rep 95, 362–368.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein H (1995). Multilevel Statistical Models. Edward Arnold: London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Golley R, Baines E, Bassett P, Wood L, Pearce F, Nelson M (2010). School lunch and learning behaviour in primary schools: an intervention study. Eur J Clin Nutr, e-pub ahead of print 1 September 2010; doi:10.1038/ejcn.2010.150, http://www.nature.com/ejcn/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/ejcn2010150a.html.

  • Golley R, Clark H (2007). The transformation of school food in England – the role and activities of the School Food Trust. Br Nutr Found Nutr Bull 32, 392–397.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harper C, Wood L, Mitchell C (2009). The provision of school food in 18 countries. http://www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk/doc_item.asp?DocId=82&DocCatId=1 (downloaded 27 November 2009).

  • Hastings N, Schweiso J (1995). Tables and tasks: the effects of seating arrangements on task engagement in primary classrooms. Educ Res 37, 279–291.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hillman CH, Erickson KI, Kramer AF (2008). Be smart, exercise your heart: exercise effects on brain and cognition. Nat Rev Neurosci 9, 58–65.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ingwersen J, Defeyter MA, Kenned DO, Wesnes KA, Scholey AB (2007). A low glycaemic index breakfast cereal preferentially prevents children's cognitive performance from declining throughout the morning. Appetite 49, 240–249.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kim H-Y P, Frongillo EA, Han S-S, Oj S-Y, Kim W-K, Jang Y-A et al. (2003). Academic performance of Korean children is associated with dietary behaviours and physical status. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 12, 186–192.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meyers AF, Sampson AE, Wietzman M, Rogers BL, Kayne H (1989). School Breakfast Program and school performance. Am J Dis Child 143, 1234–1239.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Micha R, Rogers P, Nelson M (2010). Glycaemic potency of breakfast and cognitive function in school children. Eur J Clin Nutr 64, 948–957.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rampersaud GC, Pereira MA, Girard BL, Adams J, Metzyl JD (2005). Breakfast habits, nutritional status, body weight and academic performance in children and adolescents. J Am Diet Assoc 105, 743–760.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rasbash J, Charlton C, Browne WJ, Healy M, Cameron B (2005). MLwiN Version 2.02. Centre for Multilevel Modelling, University of Bristol: Bristol.

    Google Scholar 

  • Selvik Ask A, Hernes S, Aarek I, Vik F, Brodahl C, Haugen M (2010). Serving of free school lunch to secondary-school pupils – a pilot study with health implications. Public Health Nutr 13, 238–244.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sibley BA, Etnier JL (2003). The relationship between physical activity and cognition in children: a meta-analysis. Pediatr Exerc Sci 15, 243–256.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Southon S, Wright AJ, Finglas PM, Bailey AL, Loughridge JM, Walker AD (1994). Dietary intake and micronutrient status of adolescents: effect of vitamin and trace element supplementation on indices of status and performance in tests of verbal and non-verbal intelligence. Br J Nutr 71, 897–918.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Steer A (2009). Learning Behaviour: Lessons Learned – A Review of Behaviour Standards and Practices in Our Schools. Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF): Nottingham, England, pp 87, 136–138, 149, 151.

    Google Scholar 

  • Swinburn B, Egger G, Raza F (1999). Dissecting obesogenic environments: The development and application of a framework for identifying and prioritizing environmental interventions for obesity. Prev Med 29 (Part 1), 563–570.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Taras H (2005). Physical activity and student performance at school. J School Health 75, 214–218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • The Education (Nutritional Standards for School Lunches) (England) Regulations (2007): http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2007/uksi_20072359_en_1.

  • The Education (Nutritional Standards for School Lunches) (England) Regulations (2008): http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/uksi_20081800_en_1.

  • Trudeau F, Shepard RJ (2008). Physical education, school physical activity, school sports and academic performance. J Behav Nutr Phys Activity 5, 10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wesnes KA, Pincock C, Richardson D, Helm G, Hails S (2003). Breakfast reduces declines in attention and memory over the morning in schoolchildren. Appetite 41, 329–331.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wolraich ML, Lindgren SD, Stumbo PJ, Stegnik LD, Appelbaum MI, Kiritsy MC (1994). Effects of diets high in sucrose or aspartame on the behaviour and cognitive performance of children. N Engl J Med 330, 301–307.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zimmer-Gembeck MJ, Chipuer HM, Hanisch M, Creed PA, McGregor L (2006). Relationships at school and stage-environment fit as resources for adolescent engagement and achievement. J Adolesc 29, 911–933.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank the staff and pupils from the secondary schools who participated in the study. We also thank all the organizations and individuals who contributed to the design and implementation of the study: the local Healthy Schools Teams, Chartwells, Manchester Fayre, City Catering—Leicester, and Children and Young People's Directorates and staff of the Local Authorities; and the National Centre for Social Research. This study was funded by School Food Trust.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Research and Nutrition, School Food Trust, Sheffield, England, UK

    H C Storey, J Pearce, P A L Ashfield-Watt, L Wood & M Nelson

  2. Psychology and Human Development, Institute of Education, University of London, London, UK

    E Baines

Authors
  1. H C Storey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J Pearce
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P A L Ashfield-Watt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. L Wood
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. E Baines
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. M Nelson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M Nelson.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Storey, H., Pearce, J., Ashfield-Watt, P. et al. A randomized controlled trial of the effect of school food and dining room modifications on classroom behaviour in secondary school children. Eur J Clin Nutr 65, 32–38 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2010.227

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2010.227

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links