The Korean Journal of Nutrition  2007;40(8):728-735

The Effect of Iron-enriched Cereal Breakfast and Nutrition Education on the Nutritional Status and Life Style of Elementary School Students.

So Hyoung YOU 1 ; Hyun Joo YOU ; Yong Soon PARK

Affiliations

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Keywords

breakfast; iron-enriched cereal; nutritional status; nutrition education; elementary school students

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

MeSH

Abstract

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of iron-enriched cereal supplement and nutrition education program on nutritional status and life style of children. Elementary school students (n = 170) aged of 11 years old at Seoul were participated. Subjects were supplemented with iron-enriched cereal for breakfast and provided with 2 sessions of nutrition education during 3 months. Intake of carbohydrate, iron, sodium, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin C, niacin, and folic acid was significantly increased after cereal supplement. Caloric intake was similar to KDRIs during both before and after cereal supplement. There was no improvement on exercise and dietary habits after nutrition education. Male students tended to sleep later, wake up early, and ate snack less than female. Cereal supplement was effective on improving nutritional status, but short-term nutrition education had no effect on modification of life style. Thus, further studies are required to develop long-term education program effective on improving life style and eating habits in children.