Evaluation of free school fruit on childhood growth and obesity: a natural experiment
This project will examine to which extent free fruit in schools may influence weight development in schoolchildren.
About the project
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Project period: 01.03.2017 - 31.01.2026 (Active)
- Coordinating Institution: Norwegian Institute of Public Health
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Project Manager:
- Per Minor Magnus, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
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Project Participants:
- Bjørn Heine Strand, Physical Health and Ageing, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
- Bente Øvrebø, University of Agder
- Andrew Wills, University of Bristol
- Elling Tufte Bere, Health and Inequality, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
- Ingunn Holden Bergh, Child Health and Development, Norwegian Institute of Public Health
Summary
Obesity in childhood is an increasing problem. We examine to which extent free fruit in schools may influence weight development in school-children. In Norway, free fruit was given to pupils in some schools, but not in others, in the period 2007 to 2014. By measuring height and weight in 13-year old children in a representative sample in 2017, we use this natural experiment to evaluate effects of free fruit in schools.