To evaluate the impact of a counselling programme to strengthen the health and nutrition behaviours of caregivers of children under 2 and the sustainability of that impact through reduced intervention intensity one year later.

The programme trained community- and facility-based health staff to provide nutrition counselling. We conducted an impact evaluation with a modified stepped-wedge design using difference-in-differences analysis to compare indicator changes in an intervention group to a comparison group (midterm survey) and then a full intervention group to a light intervention group (final survey).

Batken and Jalal-Abad oblasts, the Kyrgyz Republic, 2020–2023.

Caregivers of children under 2 provided 6253 responses in three telephone surveys.

We observed statistically significant differences between the intervention and comparison groups at midterm for the percentage of children consuming vitamin A-rich foods; an increase in the intervention group (58–62 %) and a decrease in the comparison group (61–57 %). We observed similar results with exclusive breastfeeding (51–55 % in the intervention group and 48–40 % in the comparison group). There were also positive differences in other health and nutrition indicators. With the final survey results, in general, we observed statistically significant differences indicating a bigger change in full intervention areas compared to light intervention areas. We observed small negative changes in many indicators in light intervention areas.

This evaluation highlights the importance of continued support for local interventions, particularly counselling programmes, to foster optimal nutrition behaviours.

The relative contribution of health promotion models (HPM) to improve health-related behaviours in intervention programmes is still limited. Here, we tested whether Pender’s HPM operationalised in the educational intervention was effective to modify nutrition and physical activity (PA) behaviours among Iranian women.

A randomised controlled field trial evaluating the efficacy of an educational intervention based on Pender’s HPM to improve PA and nutrition behaviours from August 2016 to October 2016. R version 3.0.2 and SPSS version 16 were used to conduct multiple statistical analyses.

Ten public healthcare centres in Bojnourd, Iran were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. The experimental group received the full intervention programme, which included nine 4-h training sessions and consulting support via phone contact and social media group. The control group did not receive any intervention.

Women aged 4–6 years (n 202) were randomised to intervention (n 102) and control conditions (n 100) and completed baseline and 3-month follow-up.

In the experimental group, the intervention programme had a significant effect (P < 0·05) on all construct of Pender’s HPM and behaviour outcome, and the estimates for prior behaviours, self-efficacy, interpersonal influences, feeling, perceived benefits and barriers, commitment and behaviour outcomes in the intervention group were 0·72 (95 % CI 0·31, 0·98), 0·54 (95 % CI 0·27, 0·71), 0·74 (95 % CI 0·27, 0·91), 0·52 (95 % CI 0·19, 0·75), 0·62 (95 % CI 0·22, 0·91), 0·63 (95 % CI 0·30, 0·86) and 0·56 (95 % CI 0·37, 0·85), respectively.

Educational intervention based on Pender’s HPM was feasible and highly acceptable to modify PA and nutrition behaviours in the women population.

The current study aimed to investigate the relationship between nutrition literacy (NL) and food habits (FH) in adolescents, and the factors affecting the relationship.

The study used a cross-sectional design. The data were collected using socio-demographic information forms, the Adolescent Nutrition Literacy Scale (ANLS) and the Adolescent Food Habit Checklist (AFHC). The socio-demographic characteristics of adolescents were analysed using descriptive statistics, and the factors affecting NL and FH were determined using the t test, Mann–Whitney U test and ANOVA. The correlation between ANLS and AFHC scores was tested with correlation analysis, and linear regression analysis was employed to predict the change in the NL of adolescents at the level of FH.

The study was conducted in the city of Izmir in Turkey.

The study consisted of a total of 467 adolescents.

There was a statistically significant relationship between NL of adolescents and their gender, education level of the father, grade, BMI values and daily lifestyle behaviours (DLB), as well as between their FH and DLB. There was a positive and significant relationship between ANLS and AFHC. The ANLS and its subscales were found to have a statistically significant effect on AFHC. According to the linear regression analysis, the nutritional habits of adolescents were found to be significantly affected by NL (β = 0·357).

As ANLS scores increased, AFHC scores were determined to increase as well. This finding shows that the FH of adolescents have changed positively with increase in their NL.

To describe nutrition environments in formal child care for 3- and 4-year-olds.

Cross-sectional online survey of nutrition-related child-care policy and practice. Written nutrition policies were analysed using the Wellness Child Care Assessment Tool.

Licensed child-care services in the Auckland, Counties Manukau and Waikato regions of New Zealand.

Eight hundred and forty-seven services (private and community day care, kindergartens and playcentres).

Managers/head teachers of 257 child-care services completed the survey. Of services, 82·4 % had a written food, nutrition or wellness policy. Most policies did not refer to the national Food and Nutrition Guidelines and lacked directives for staff regarding recommended behaviours to promote healthy eating. Food was provided daily to children in 56·4 % of child-care services, including 33·5 % that provided lunch and at least two other meals/snacks every day. Teachers talked to children about food, and cooked with children, at least weekly in 60 % of child-care services. Nearly all services had an edible garden (89·5 %). Foods/beverages were sold for fundraising in the past 12 months by 37·2 % of services. The most commonly reported barrier to promoting nutrition was a lack of support from families (20·6 %).

Although the majority of child-care services had a written nutrition policy, these were not comprehensive and contained weak statements that could be difficult to action. Foods served at celebrations and for fundraising were largely high in sugar, salt and/or saturated fat. Most services promoted some healthy eating behaviours but other widespread practices encouraged children to overeat or form unhealthy food preferences.