Differences in response to nutrition and fitness education programmes in relation to baseline levels of cardiovascular risk in 10 to 12-year-old children.

Objective: To examine associations between children's responses to nutrition and fitness programmes and their baseline levels of cardiovascular risk factors.

Design: A randomised controlled trial.

Setting: Primary schools in Perth, Western Australia.

Participants: 1147 children aged 10-12 years.

Interventions: Fitness, fitness+school nutrition, school +home nutrition or home nutrition programmes and a control group.

Main Outcome Measures: Blood pressure (BP), cholesterol, nutrient intake, fitness, and body fat.

Results: Fall in systolic BP was significantly greater in the higher risk groups with the fitness intervention for boys and the home nutrition intervention for girls. Overall, diastolic BP fell for girls in the fitness intervention with no differences related to cluster membership. Higher risk boys in the fitness intervention showed greater improvement in fitness than the lower risk boys. Fitness improved in girls in the fitness programme but responses did not differ significantly according to cluster membership. Decrease in triceps skinfolds was significantly greater for higher risk boys in the home nutrition group and in higher risk girls except for those receiving the school+home nutrition intervention. Home nutrition programmes were associated with decreased intake of fat and greater intake of fibre in girls in the higher risk group and of sugar in higher risk boys.

Conclusions: The greatest improvement in the higher risk children were associated with fitness and home nutrition programmes. Health education programmes aiming to include higher risk children should focus on these areas.