Esta página foi traduzida automaticamente e a precisão da tradução não é garantida. Por favor, consulte o versão em inglês para um texto fonte.

Impact of School Meal Program on Child Nutrition and Academic Performance

28 de agosto de 2026 atualizado por: Qaisar Raza, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore - Pakistan

Impact of School Meal Program on Nutritional Status and Academic Performance Among Primary School Children: An Interventional Study

This study will assess the impact of a school meal program on the nutritional status and academic performance of primary school children in Lahore, Pakistan. Children aged 6-11 years from selected government primary schools will participate in the study. Children in the intervention group will receive a balanced school meal during school hours for 12 weeks, providing approximately one-third of their daily energy requirement, while children in the control group will continue their usual dietary practices. The study will compare changes in children's nutritional status, including weight, height, body mass index, mid-upper arm circumference, and body composition, as well as school attendance and examination performance. The study will also examine whether nutritional status is related to academic performance.

Visão geral do estudo

Status

Ainda não está recrutando

Intervenção / Tratamento

Descrição detalhada

Childhood nutrition is an important determinant of physical growth, cognitive development, and academic performance. Poor nutrition may affect children's physical health, concentration, school participation, and learning. School meal program provide an opportunity to improve children's access to nutritious food during school hours; however, there is limited evidence from Pakistan on their effects on both nutritional status and academic performance.

This study will be conducted among primary school children aged 6-11 years enrolled in Grades 1-5 in selected government primary schools in peri-urban areas of Lahore, Pakistan. The selected schools will be characterized by food insecurity, low socioeconomic status, limited access to basic facilities, and educational vulnerability. The study will use a school-based pre-post intervention design with a control group and will be conducted over 12 weeks.

Children in the intervention group will receive a school meal designed to provide approximately one-third of the daily energy requirement for school-aged children. Children in the control group will continue their usual dietary practices and regular school routine without receiving the study meal. Daily records will be maintained to monitor meal distribution and consumption among children in the intervention group, with support from teachers and school staff.

Changes in nutritional status will be assessed before and after the 12-week intervention using anthropometric measurements, including height, weight, BMI-for-age, and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC). Body composition will also be assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis to obtain indicators such as fat mass and muscle mass.

Educational outcomes will be assessed using school records, including school attendance and examination scores. Pre- and post-intervention questionnaires will collect information on dietary intake, socioeconomic background, and general health to provide additional information for interpretation of the study findings.

The primary objective of the study is to assess the impact of the school meal program on the nutritional status and academic performance of primary school children in Lahore. The study will also examine the relationship between nutritional status and academic performance.

The findings are expected to provide locally relevant evidence regarding the potential contribution of school meal program to child nutrition and educational outcomes and may support evidence-based decision-making regarding school meal programs in Pakistan.

Tipo de estudo

Intervencional

Inscrição (Estimado)

496

Estágio

  • Não aplicável

Contactos e Locais

Esta seção fornece os detalhes de contato para aqueles que conduzem o estudo e informações sobre onde este estudo está sendo realizado.

Contato de estudo

Locais de estudo

    • Punjab Province
      • Lahore, Punjab Province, Paquistão, 54000
        • University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore
        • Contato:
          • University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Food and Nutrition
          • Número de telefone: +92-42-99211374
          • E-mail: webmaster@uvas.edu.pk

Critérios de participação

Os pesquisadores procuram pessoas que se encaixem em uma determinada descrição, chamada de critérios de elegibilidade. Alguns exemplos desses critérios são a condição geral de saúde de uma pessoa ou tratamentos anteriores.

Critérios de elegibilidade

Idades elegíveis para estudo

  • Filho

Aceita Voluntários Saudáveis

Sim

Descrição

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Children aged 6-11 years (Grades 1-5).
  • Children enrolled in the selected government primary schools.
  • Children present on the day of data collection.
  • Parental or guardian consent obtained.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Children with chronic illness affecting growth.
  • Students absent during data collection.
  • Refusal of consent by parents or guardians.

Plano de estudo

Esta seção fornece detalhes do plano de estudo, incluindo como o estudo é projetado e o que o estudo está medindo.

Como o estudo é projetado?

Detalhes do projeto

  • Finalidade Principal: Prevenção
  • Alocação: Não randomizado
  • Modelo Intervencional: Atribuição Paralela
  • Mascaramento: Nenhum (rótulo aberto)

Armas e Intervenções

Grupo de Participantes / Braço
Intervenção / Tratamento
Experimental: School Meal Intervention Group
Children receiving the school meal program daily for 12 weeks in addition to their usual school routine
A daily school meal will be provided to primary school children for 12 weeks as part of a school meal program. The meal is designed to provide approximately one-third of the children's daily energy requirements and will be provided during the school day.
Sem intervenção: Control Group
Children continuing their usual school routine without receiving the school meal program during the 12-week study period

O que o estudo está medindo?

Medidas de resultados primários

Medida de resultado
Descrição da medida
Prazo
Change in body weight (kg)
Prazo: Baseline to 12 weeks
Change in body weight from baseline to 12 weeks among children participating in the school meal intervention compared with the control group. Body weight will be measured in kilograms using standardized anthropometric procedures.
Baseline to 12 weeks
Change in body mass index (BMI, kg/m²)
Prazo: Baseline to 12 weeks
Change in body mass index from baseline to 12 weeks among children participating in the school meal intervention compared with the control group. BMI will be calculated from measured weight and height.
Baseline to 12 weeks
Change in mid-upper arm circumference
Prazo: Baseline to 12 weeks
Baseline to 12 weeks
Change in Dietary Diversity Score (0-10)
Prazo: Baseline to 12 weeks
Dietary diversity will be assessed based on the number of food groups consumed during the previous 24 hours. The score ranges from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater dietary diversity. Scores of 0-3 indicate low dietary diversity, 4-5 indicate moderate dietary diversity, and >5 indicate high dietary diversity. Change from baseline to post-intervention will be reported as the difference in dietary diversity score.
Baseline to 12 weeks

Medidas de resultados secundários

Medida de resultado
Descrição da medida
Prazo
Change in fat mass (kg)
Prazo: Baseline to 12 weeks
Baseline to 12 weeks
Change in skeletal muscle mass (kg)
Prazo: Baseline to 12 weeks
Baseline to 12 weeks
Change in school attendance rate (%)
Prazo: Baseline to 12 weeks
Baseline to 12 weeks
Number of participants reporting acute illness episodes
Prazo: During the 12-week intervention
Acute illness reported by participants/parents during the specified recall period. The number and percentage of participants reporting illness will be compared between baseline and post-intervention.
During the 12-week intervention
Change in academic test score (%)
Prazo: Baseline to 12 weeks
Academic performance will be assessed using the study-specific curriculum-based test. Change from baseline to post-intervention will be reported as the difference in test scores.
Baseline to 12 weeks

Colaboradores e Investigadores

É aqui que você encontrará pessoas e organizações envolvidas com este estudo.

Publicações e links úteis

A pessoa responsável por inserir informações sobre o estudo fornece voluntariamente essas publicações. Estes podem ser sobre qualquer coisa relacionada ao estudo.

Datas de registro do estudo

Essas datas acompanham o progresso do registro do estudo e os envios de resumo dos resultados para ClinicalTrials.gov. Os registros do estudo e os resultados relatados são revisados ​​pela National Library of Medicine (NLM) para garantir que atendam aos padrões específicos de controle de qualidade antes de serem publicados no site público.

Datas Principais do Estudo

Início do estudo (Estimado)

1 de setembro de 2026

Conclusão Primária (Estimado)

1 de novembro de 2026

Conclusão do estudo (Estimado)

1 de novembro de 2026

Datas de inscrição no estudo

Enviado pela primeira vez

25 de agosto de 2026

Enviado pela primeira vez que atendeu aos critérios de CQ

28 de agosto de 2026

Primeira postagem (Real)

2 de setembro de 2026

Atualizações de registro de estudo

Última Atualização Postada (Real)

2 de setembro de 2026

Última atualização enviada que atendeu aos critérios de controle de qualidade

28 de agosto de 2026

Última verificação

1 de agosto de 2026

Mais Informações

Termos relacionados a este estudo

Plano para dados de participantes individuais (IPD)

Planeja compartilhar dados de participantes individuais (IPD)?

NÃO

Descrição do plano IPD

Individual participant data will not be shared because the study involves data from children, and sharing individual-level data may pose privacy and confidentiality risks.

Informações sobre medicamentos e dispositivos, documentos de estudo

Estuda um medicamento regulamentado pela FDA dos EUA

Não

Estuda um produto de dispositivo regulamentado pela FDA dos EUA

Não

Essas informações foram obtidas diretamente do site clinicaltrials.gov sem nenhuma alteração. Se você tiver alguma solicitação para alterar, remover ou atualizar os detalhes do seu estudo, entre em contato com register@clinicaltrials.gov. Assim que uma alteração for implementada em clinicaltrials.gov, ela também será atualizada automaticamente em nosso site .

Se inscrever