Influence of a Nutrition Education Program on Parental Nutrition Knowledge, Dietary Habits, and Nutritional Status in...

Introduction: Childhood obesity represents a major public health priority, and parent-focused educational interventions have been proposed as a strategy to improve dietary habits and prevent excess weight among schoolchildren. However, evidence regarding their impact on behavioral and anthropometric outcomes remains heterogeneous, particularly in Latin American settings. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of a parent-oriented nutrition education program on parental nutrition knowledge, dietary habits, and the nutritional status of schoolchildren with excess weight. Methods: A randomized controlled experimental study was conducted in a public educational institution in Peru. From a total population of 411 schoolchildren, a population-based screening was performed to identify those with excess weight; of the 198 children assessed, 64 met the inclusion criteria and were randomly assigned (1:1) to an intervention group or a control group. The educational program consisted of theoretical sessions, practical workshops, and home-based reinforcement over a three-month period. Outcomes included parental nutrition knowledge, children's dietary habits, and body mass index-for-age Z-score according to sex. Longitudinal analyses were performed using linear mixed-effects regression models. Results: The intervention group showed a significant increase in parental nutrition knowledge compared with the control group (β = 5.65; 95% CI: 2.25-9.06; p = 0.002). No significant effects of the program were observed on dietary habits or BMI-for-age Z-score (p > 0.05). Conclusions: The nutrition education program significantly improved parental nutrition knowledge but did not lead to short-term changes in dietary habits or nutritional status among schoolchildren. These findings highlight the need for longer-term and multicomponent interventions to achieve meaningful behavioral and anthropometric changes.