[Nutrition-related prevention studies in children and adolescents on a population level--concepts, methods, outcome]

Reports on 29 controlled intervention studies concerning the improvement of the diet of children and adolescents under preventive aspects mostly from the USA were found since 1970. Nearly all studies were done in schools, mostly with about 500-2500 pupils aged 9-15 yrs. The design and methods of the interventions differed between the studies. In most cases, the interventions showed favourable results regarding physiological (serum cholesterol, blood pressure, BMI) as well as nutritional aspects (knowledge, food consumption).