A review of 21 articles looked at school-based nutrition programs for students in Greece and the Republic of Cyprus. The review looked at several factors, including body mass index (BMI), physical activity, and how much fruit and vegetables students ate. It also looked at nutrition knowledge and household food security.
The findings showed some positive changes. Specifically, 11 studies reported better dietary habits, including more fruit and vegetable consumption and better adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Some studies also showed improvements in physical activity and nutrition knowledge. While 8 studies reported favorable changes in BMI, shorter programs showed mixed results.
It is important to note that the evidence is currently limited and varied. The studies used different designs and lengths, and there was very little data from Cyprus. Because the evidence is not yet consistent, these results do not prove that every program will work the same way. Experts suggest that longer, more standardized programs are needed to better understand how these programs help students over time.
