Objective: We evaluated in a prospective study microcomputer nutritional te
aching games and their contribution to the children's acquisition of nutrit
ional knowledge and improvement of eating habits.
Material and methods: One thousand eight hundred seventy-six children aged
7-12 years took part in this study at school. All 16 schools of the same sc
hool district were randomized into two groups: games group and control grou
p, both receiving conventional nutritional teaching by their teachers. The
children in the games group played computer games during the conventional n
utritional teaching period (2 hours a week for 5 weeks). At completion of t
he study, dietetic knowledge and dietary records were evaluated in both gro
ups.
Results: Dietary knowledge tests results were better in the games group (p
< 0.001). The children in the games group had a significantly better balanc
ed diet for an energy intake of about 1900 kilocalories: more carbohydrate
(46.4 +/- 0.2% vs 45.7 +/- 0.2%, p < 0.05), less fat(37.1 +/- 0.1% vs 37.6
+/- 0.2%, p < 0.05), less protein (16.5 +/- 0.1% vs 16.7 +/- 0.1%, p < 0.05
), less saccharose (11.5 +/- 0.1% vs 12.2 +/- 0.2%, p < 0.001), more calciu
m (p < 0.001) and more fiber (p < 0.05). The games group had a better snack
at 10 a.m., a less copious lunch and less nibbling (p < 0.001),
Conclusion: The children in the games group had slightly but significantly
better nutritional knowledge and dietary intake compared to children in the
control group. Using our micro computer nutritional teaching games at scho
ol provides an additional and modern support to conventional teaching.