The ultimate nutrition study

This study is performed in the context of a public event that aims to acquaint
children in the final year of pre-school (basisschool groep 8) with scientific
research. Classes participate in a science-teaching program provided by the
applicants that ends with a contest in which children write their own research
proposal. The two winning classes of the contest will be part of a *real*
research project. In this project, they will be researcher, statistician,
technician or press officer but also function as subject / volunteer of the
study. The schools that participate in the teaching program and contest will be
informed in advance that the prize consists of a project that asks for
participation of the children.

The design of the project is such that the results will be publishable in a
scientific journal and will contribute to insight into the relation between
food intake and physical activity and physical fitness and body composition.
Earlier research in adults showed a significant underreporting of food intake
as compared with estimated energy expenditure based on physical activity and
body composition. Additionally, there was a significant relation between
physical activity and physical fitness and body composition. The more active
subjects were fitter and leaner. Here, similar observations will be performed
in children to study whether the relations as observed in adults already exist
in this age group.

Cross-sectional observational study

The two participating classes will be visited at the onset of the project and
the children will be asked to keep a food diary for one week and to carry a
small device that registers body movement for one week. Subsequently, the
children will come to the NEMO science center for a two-day visit. There: they
will be subjected to a short evaluation of their physical condition using a
treadmill and (Polar) heart rate monitor at sub-maximal exercise intensity;
body composition will be determined by air-displacement plethysmography using a
BodPod apparatus (body volume) and by deuterium dilution (total body water);
they will evaluate their own food- and activity record with a computer
simulation programme.
The time investment requested from the participating children is 2 hours at the
onset of the study (including explanations), 30 minutes per day for 7 days
(dietary intake and activity monitor), and 2 x 3 hours when the study is ended
at the NEMO science center.
There are no risks associated with the participation in the project.