This study will assess the impact of a school meal program on the nutritional status and academic performance of primary school children in Lahore, Pakistan. Children aged 6-11 years from selected government primary schools will participate in the study. Children in the intervention group will receive a balanced school meal during school hours for 12 weeks, providing approximately one-third of their daily energy requirement, while children in the control group will continue their usual dietary practices. The study will compare changes in children's nutritional status, including weight, height, body mass index, mid-upper arm circumference, and body composition, as well as school attendance and examination performance. The study will also examine whether nutritional status is related to academic performance.
Children aged 6-11 years (Grades 1-5).
Children enrolled in the selected government primary schools.
Children present on the day of data collection.
Parental or guardian consent obtained.
Children with chronic illness affecting growth.
Students absent during data collection.
Refusal of consent by parents or guardians.
Parallel
School Meal Program
Other interventionA daily school meal will be provided to primary school children for 12 weeks as part of a school meal program. The meal is designed to provide approximately one-third of the children's daily energy requirements and will be provided during the school day.
Change in body weight (kg)
Change in body weight from baseline to 12 weeks among children participating in the school meal intervention compared with the control group. Body weight will be measured in kilograms using standardized anthropometric procedures.
Change in body mass index (BMI, kg/m²)
Change in body mass index from baseline to 12 weeks among children participating in the school meal intervention compared with the control group. BMI will be calculated from measured weight and height.
Change in mid-upper arm circumference
Change in Dietary Diversity Score (0-10)
Dietary diversity will be assessed based on the number of food groups consumed during the previous 24 hours. The score ranges from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater dietary diversity. Scores of 0-3 indicate low dietary diversity, 4-5 indicate moderate dietary diversity, and \>5 indicate high dietary diversity. Change from baseline to post-intervention will be reported as the difference in dietary diversity score.
Change in fat mass (kg)
Change in skeletal muscle mass (kg)
Change in school attendance rate (%)
Number of participants reporting acute illness episodes
Acute illness reported by participants/parents during the specified recall period. The number and percentage of participants reporting illness will be compared between baseline and post-intervention.
Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.
This trial is not recruiting at the moment. You can still explore other options:
