Reducing Ultra-processed Food Consumption in 12–15 Year-olds Using Digital Boards: A School-based Intervention

Background Organisations define ultra-processed foods as industrial formulations made up of several ingredients and additives, frequently made from materials that are not commonly used in home cooking. Ultra-processed foods are becoming more widely acknowledged as a significant factor in youth’s poor dietary quality, rising obesity rates, and mental health decline. Teenagers are especially susceptible to the effects of highly processed, high-energy, low-nutrient products, which frequently predominate in school and community food environments. Aim Here we used interactive digital boards to deliver education programme on the effect of ultra-processed foods on physical and emotional wellbeing to Year 9 and 10 schoolchildren (12–15 years of age), in an urban area in South-East England. Methods We used a questionnaire to assess our participant’s baseline for emotional, physical and psychological wellbeing, nutrition and lifestyle choices, a pre- and post-intervention questionnaire to measure any quantifiable behavioural changes and a Kahoot quiz to measure comprehension of module content. Questionnaire responses were converted to a Likert scale ordinal score for evaluation. Total scores were analysed using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Changes between pre- and post-intervention scores and performance scores across each session were assessed using the Friedman test. Corrections for multiple comparisons were made using Benjamini-Hochberg (p < 0.05). Results Participants reported to having overall positive mental and psychological wellbeing; however, screen time was high and physical activity was low. Furthermore, participants reported to consuming high amounts of ultra-processed carbohydrates and proteins, but low amounts of minimally processed proteins. Despite showing an understanding of the education programme in the Kahoot quiz assessment, no evidence change in physical health or dietary patterns was observed. Conclusion Participants engaged in the intervention and demonstrated understanding of the educational content but did not exhibit any behavioural changes indicative of reduced consumption of ultra-processed foods or increased activity levels. Future interventions require extended contact and follow-ups with participants to allow further assessment of possible behavioural changes and improvements in overall mental, physical and psychological wellbeing.