Impact of implementation and conduct of the HEALTHY primary prevention trial on student performance

Purpose: To determine whether a school-wide intervention program to reduce risk factors for type 2 diabetes (T2D) affected student achievement, rates of disciplinary actions, and attendance rates.

Design: The HEALTHY primary prevention trial was designed to evaluate a comprehensive school-based intervention to reduce factors for T2D, especially overweight and obesity. Students were followed up from beginning of sixth grade (Fall 2006) through end of eighth grade (Spring 2009).

Setting: Forty-two middle schools at seven U.S. sites.

Subjects: Schools were randomized in equal numbers at each site to intervention (21 schools, 2307 students) or control (21 schools, 2296 students). Intervention . An integrated school-wide program that focused on (1) foods and beverages, (2) physical education, (3) classroom-based behavior change and education, and (4) social marketing communication and promotional campaigns.

Measures: Aggregate (grade- and school-wide) test performance (passing rate), attendance, and referrals for disciplinary actions.

Analysis: Descriptive statistics and tests of intervention versus control using mixed linear models methods to adjust for the clustering of students within schools.

Results: There were no differences between intervention and control schools in test performance for mathematics (p = .7835) or reading (p = .6387), attendance (p = .5819), or referrals for disciplinary action (p = .8671).

Conclusion: The comprehensive HEALTHY intervention and associated research procedures did not negatively impact student achievement test scores, attendance, or referrals for disciplinary action.