Efetividade de estratégias de educação alimentar e nutricional em ambiente escolar: uma abordagem integrada com pré escolares, mães e educadores

Abstract

Food and Nutrition Education (FNE) is an important tool for expanding knowledge about adequate and healthy eating. However, preschool children are highly dependent, with their parents and guardians being responsible for offering and presenting food. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of FNE actions carried out in a daycare center in Governador Valadares (MG), with the participation of children, mothers, and educators. This is an open-label, randomized controlled cluster clinical trial. Participants included children of both sexes, aged between 2 and 4 years (not yet 4 years old), their mothers, and educators, totaling 107 child-mother pairs and 18 educators. The children were predominantly male (64.5%) and eutrophic (74.6%), while overweight predominated among mothers and educators (54.3% and 66.7%, respectively). The average age of the mothers was 32.5 ± 5.2 years, with a predominance of brown skin color and income level B2. Among the group of educators, the average age was 36.75 ± 9.68 years, with a prevalence of brown skin color and income levels between B2 and C1. Among the main findings, it was found that the 5-month period proved insufficient to promote the expected anthropometric changes. However, there was an improvement in the perception of mothers and educators regarding the quality of food and greater confidence among educators in working on topics related to food and nutrition, results observed in both study groups. The results indicate that nutrition education interventions may require periods longer than 5 months to promote quantitative changes.