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Effects of 2-year dietary and physical activity intervention on cognition in children-a nonrandomized controlled
Sehrish Naveed1, Taisa Sallinen1,2,3, Aino-Maija Eloranta1,2
1Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine, School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
Insights
A combined diet and physical activity (PA) intervention did not improve children's cognition. However, better diet quality and more organized sports and reading were linked to cognitive gains.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Childhood Physical Activity
- Cognitive Development
Background:
- Investigated the impact of lifestyle interventions on cognitive function in children.
- Examined associations between diet quality, physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SB), and sedentary time (ST) with cognitive changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effects of a combined dietary and PA intervention on children's cognition.
- To determine if changes in diet quality, PA, SB, and ST correlate with cognitive improvements.
Main Methods:
- A 2-year nonrandomized controlled trial involving 504 children aged 6-9 years.
- Intervention group received dietary and PA counseling, with encouragement for after-school exercise clubs.
- Cognition assessed using Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices; diet quality by Baltic Sea Diet Score (BSDS); PA and ST by monitors and questionnaires.
Main Results:
- The combined intervention showed no significant effect on overall cognition.
- Improved cognition was associated with higher BSDS, increased low-fat milk intake, and reduced red meat/sausage consumption.
- Increased organized sports and reading, alongside higher ST, positively correlated with cognition; unsupervised PA and computer use showed negative associations.
Conclusions:
- A combined dietary and PA intervention did not enhance cognitive function in children.
- Improved diet quality and increased participation in organized sports and reading were associated with better cognitive outcomes.
Background And Objective:
We investigated the effects of a combined dietary and PA intervention on cognition in children and whether changes in diet quality, PA, sedentary behavior (SB), and sedentary time (ST) are associated with changes in cognition.
Methods:
We conducted a 2-year nonrandomized controlled trial in 504 children aged 6-9 years at baseline. The children were allocated to a combined dietary and PA intervention group (n = 237) or a control group (n = 160) without blinding.
Interventions:
The children and their parents allocated to the intervention group had six dietary counseling sessions of 30-45 min and six PA counseling sessions of 30-45 min during the 2-year intervention period. The children were also encouraged to participate in after-school exercise clubs. Cognition was assessed by the Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices. We assessed dietary factors by 4 days food records and computed the Baltic Sea Diet Score (BSDS) as a measure of diet quality. PA and ST were assessed by a combined heart rate and body movement monitor, types of PA and SB by a questionnaire.
Results:
The intervention had no effect on cognition. Increased BSDS and consumption of low-fat milk and decreased consumption of red meat and sausages were associated with improved cognition over 2 years. Increased organized sports, ST, and reading were positively, while unsupervised PA, computer use, and writing were negatively associated with cognition.
Conclusion:
Combined dietary and PA intervention had no effect on cognition. Improved diet quality and increased organized sports and reading were associated with improved cognition.
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