Study Comparing Free Fruit Stands and Awareness Campaigns to Improve Fruit Eating in Swedish Schools Among Students Aged 7 to 19

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating two approaches to increase fruit consumption among students in Swedish schools. The study is part of a Europe-wide project aiming to promote healthier eating habits and prevent childhood obesity by improving fruit availability in school settings. It compares providing free fruit stands alone versus fruit stands combined with a health-awareness campaign to see which better supports healthy eating. Participating schools are randomly assigned to either have fruit stands offering two types of fruit during school hours or fruit stands plus an educational campaign promoting healthy eating. Digital scales in the fruit stands monitor fruit uptake, while school staff record these measurements. Students use a mobile app to photograph and log all their meals and snacks before, during, and after the intervention to track fruit intake and eating patterns. Students contribute data during three periods before the fruit stands are introduced, immediately after their introduction, and after the intervention ends to assess lasting effects. Researchers analyze changes in fruit consumption and eating behaviors, as well as monitor food waste using weight-based digital tracking. The study aims to identify effective strategies for promoting fruit intake in schools and supports broader efforts to encourage healthy diets among children and adolescents.

A Comparative Intervention Study on Strategies for Fruit Distribution and Awareness Campaigns in Schools