Embracing Morning BReakfast and Activity for Classroom Engagement

Part of paid clinical trials in Chicago, Illinois.

Sponsor
University of Illinois at Chicago
Study ID
NCT06555627
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

  • Child Development

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
6 Years - 11 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • High Protein Breakfast — BEHAVIORAL
    For 5 days children will receive a high protein breakfast comprised of baked items (i.e. waffles with syrup) and Greek yogurt. The high protein meal will aim for 40% protein, 40% carbohydrates, and 20% fat. Meals will be served with a cup of water.
  • Morning Exercise — BEHAVIORAL
    Exercise Intervention. For 5 days, a 30-min physical activity bout including a 5-minute warm up and cool down will be provided to participants in this group. The aim is for students to achieve an average heart rate above 150 for the session, not including warm up or cool down. To monitor intensity, the participant will wear heart rate monitors around their chest and waist-worn accelerometers.
  • High Carb Breakfast — BEHAVIORAL
    For 5 days children will receive a high carb breakfast that will be comprised of 15% protein, 65% carbohydrates and 20% fat. Total energy content, fat, sugar, fiber, energy density, are similar between the breakfast meals.

Study Details

This experiment will test the effects of healthy breakfast and morning exercise on children's focus and classroom behavior. Food and exercise each influence child focus, but little is known about their effects on classroom behavior and less about their combined effects. For one week (Monday-Friday), 10 children will be randomly assigned to receive healthy breakfast and morning exercise, 10 assigned to only healthy breakfast, 10 to only exercise, and 10 to neither. After exercise and breakfast, study staff will assess how focused children are during class-time, ask them to complete puzzle-like tasks, and wear a helmet that measures brain blood flow

Key Dates

Start date
Feb 3, 2025
Status verified
May 2025
Primary completion
Dec 31, 2025
Completion
Dec 31, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment
50 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
FACTORIAL
Primary purpose
OTHER

Arms

  • Experimental: Exercise and High Protein Breakfast
    Children in this group will be given given breakfast each morning at 7:30 am and participate in a 30-minute bout of physically active games of moderate to vigorous intensity at 8 am. Nutrition Intervention. For 5 days children will receive a high protein breakfast comprised of baked items (i.e. waffles with syrup) and Greek yogurt. The high protein meal will aim for 40% protein, 40% carbohydrates, and 20% fat. Meals will be served with a cup of water. Exercise Intervention. For 5 days, a 30-min physical activity bout including a 5-minute warm up and cool down will be provided to participants in this group. The aim is for students to achieve an average heart rate above 150 for the session, not including warm up or cool down. To monitor intensity, the participant will wear heart rate monitors around their chest and waist-worn accelerometers
  • Active Comparator: High Protein Breakfast Only
    Nutrition Intervention. For 5 days children will receive a high protein breakfast comprised of baked items (i.e. waffles with syrup) and Greek yogurt. The high protein meal will aim for 40% protein, 40% carbohydrates, and 20% fat. Meals will be served with a cup of water.
  • Active Comparator: Exercise and High Carb Breakfast
    Exercise Intervention. For 5 days, a 30-min physical activity bout including a 5-minute warm up and cool down will be provided to participants in this group. The aim is for students to achieve an average heart rate above 150 for the session, not including warm up or cool down. To monitor intensity, the participant will wear heart rate monitors around their chest and waist-worn accelerometers. For 5 days children will receive a high carb breakfast that will be comprised of 15% protein, 65% carbohydrates and 20% fat. Total energy content, fat, sugar, fiber, energy density, are similar between the breakfast meals.
  • Placebo Comparator: High Carb Breakfast Only
    For 5 days children will receive a high carb breakfast that will be comprised of 15% protein, 65% carbohydrates and 20% fat. Total energy content, fat, sugar, fiber, energy density, are similar between the breakfast meals.

Primary Outcome Measure

Behavioral Observation of Students in Schools (BOSS) - Classroom Engagement (Shapiro et al., 2003) [ Time Frame: Classroom observations will occur between 9:00am and 11:30am on 3 days during the baseline week and on 3 days during the intervention week. ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
Altus AcademyChicagoIllinois60612
John P Heybach, PhD
[email protected]
312-374-3148

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By research site
Altus Academy· Chicago, IL

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