Malnutrition in ChildrenNCT07800208
Impact of School Meal Program on Child Nutrition and Academic Performance
A study testing School Meal Program in people with Malnutrition in Children, run by University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore - Pakistan at 1 site in Pakistan.
Trial summary
This study will assess the impact of a school meal program on the nutritional status and academic performance of primary school children in Lahore, Pakistan. Children aged 6-11 years from selected government primary schools will participate in the study. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 6 to 11 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Malnutrition in Children
- What is being tested?
- School Meal Program
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 496 participants
- Where
- 1 sitePakistan
- Study dates
- Sep 2026to Nov 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 6 to 11 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child
Who may be able to join
- Children aged 6-11 years (Grades 1-5).
- Children enrolled in the selected government primary schools.
- Children present on the day of data collection.
- Parental or guardian consent obtained.
Who cannot join
- Children with chronic illness affecting growth.
- Students absent during data collection.
- Refusal of consent by parents or guardians.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Pakistan1 site
University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore
Lahore, Punjab Province, 54000
University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Food and Nutrition, +92-42-99211374, webmaster@uvas.edu.pk
About this study
Official title: Impact of School Meal Program on Nutritional Status and Academic Performance Among Primary School Children: An Interventional Study
This study will assess the impact of a school meal program on the nutritional status and academic performance of primary school children in Lahore, Pakistan. Children aged 6-11 years from selected government primary schools will participate in the study. Children in the intervention group will receive a balanced school meal during school hours for 12 weeks, providing approximately one-third of their daily energy requirement, while children in the control group will continue their usual dietary practices. The study will compare changes in children's nutritional status, including weight, height, body mass index, mid-upper arm circumference, and body composition, as well as school attendance and examination performance. The study will also examine whether nutritional status is related to academic performance.
Read the detailed description
Childhood nutrition is an important determinant of physical growth, cognitive development, and academic performance. Poor nutrition may affect children's physical health, concentration, school participation, and learning. School meal program provide an opportunity to improve children's access to nutritious food during school hours; however, there is limited evidence from Pakistan on their effects on both nutritional status and academic performance.
This study will be conducted among primary school children aged 6-11 years enrolled in Grades 1-5 in selected government primary schools in peri-urban areas of Lahore, Pakistan. The selected schools will be characterized by food insecurity, low socioeconomic status, limited access to basic facilities, and educational vulnerability. The study will use a school-based pre-post intervention design with a control group and will be conducted over 12 weeks.
Children in the intervention group will receive a school meal designed to provide approximately one-third of the daily energy requirement for school-aged children. Children in the control group will continue their usual dietary practices and regular school routine without receiving the study meal. Daily records will be maintained to monitor meal distribution and consumption among children in the intervention group, with support from teachers and school staff.
Changes in nutritional status will be assessed before and after the 12-week intervention using anthropometric measurements, including height, weight, BMI-for-age, and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC). Body composition will also be assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis to obtain indicators such as fat mass and muscle mass.
Educational outcomes will be assessed using school records, including school attendance and examination scores. Pre- and post-intervention questionnaires will collect information on dietary intake, socioeconomic background, and general health to provide additional information for interpretation of the study findings.
The primary objective of the study is to assess the impact of the school meal program on the nutritional status and academic performance of primary school children in Lahore. The study will also examine the relationship between nutritional status and academic performance.
The findings are expected to provide locally relevant evidence regarding the potential contribution of school meal program to child nutrition and educational outcomes and may support evidence-based decision-making regarding school meal programs in Pakistan.
- Conditions
- Malnutrition in Children
- Being tested
- School Meal Program
- Keywords
- School meal program, Child nutrition, Nutritional status, Academic performance, Body composition
- Medical subject headings
- Child Nutrition Disorders
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
School Meal ProgramOther
A daily school meal will be provided to primary school children for 12 weeks as part of a school meal program. The meal is designed to provide approximately one-third of the children's daily energy requirements and will be provided during the school day.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| School Meal Intervention Group | Experimental | Children receiving the school meal program daily for 12 weeks in addition to their usual school routine Receives: Other: School Meal Program |
| Control Group | No intervention | Children continuing their usual school routine without receiving the school meal program during the 12-week study period |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in body weight (kg)
Change in body weight from baseline to 12 weeks among children participating in the school meal intervention compared with the control group. Body weight will be measured in kilograms using standardized anthropometric procedures.
Measured: Baseline to 12 weeks
Change in body mass index (BMI, kg/m²)
Change in body mass index from baseline to 12 weeks among children participating in the school meal intervention compared with the control group. BMI will be calculated from measured weight and height.
Measured: Baseline to 12 weeks
Change in mid-upper arm circumference
Measured: Baseline to 12 weeks
Change in Dietary Diversity Score (0-10)
Dietary diversity will be assessed based on the number of food groups consumed during the previous 24 hours. The score ranges from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater dietary diversity. Scores of 0-3 indicate low dietary diversity, 4-5 indicate moderate dietary diversity, and >5 indicate high dietary diversity. Change from baseline to post-intervention will be reported as the difference in dietary diversity score.
Measured: Baseline to 12 weeks
Secondary outcomes (5)
Change in fat mass (kg)
Measured: Baseline to 12 weeks
Change in skeletal muscle mass (kg)
Measured: Baseline to 12 weeks
Change in school attendance rate (%)
Measured: Baseline to 12 weeks
Number of participants reporting acute illness episodes
Acute illness reported by participants/parents during the specified recall period. The number and percentage of participants reporting illness will be compared between baseline and post-intervention.
Measured: During the 12-week intervention
Change in academic test score (%)
Academic performance will be assessed using the study-specific curriculum-based test. Change from baseline to post-intervention will be reported as the difference in test scores.
Measured: Baseline to 12 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted2 Sep 2026
- Study startSep 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionNov 2026 (estimated)
- Study completionNov 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Malnutrition in ChildrenStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- Participants will be assigned to either an intervention group receiving the school meal program or a control group continuing their usual dietary practices. Both groups will be assessed before and after the 12-week study period to evaluate changes in nutritional status and academic performance.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 496 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore - Pakistan
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Qaisar Raza, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore - Pakistan
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07800208
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 455/IRC/BMR
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 25 Aug 2026
- Last updated
- 2 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: Individual participant data will not be shared because the study involves data from children, and sharing individual-level data may pose privacy and confidentiality risks.
Publications
Pramesthi IL, Wiradnyani LAA, Anggraini R, Februhartanty J, Widaryat W, Waluyo BH, Wahyunto AT, Mansyur M, Fahmida U. Evaluating the Impact of Indonesia's National School Feeding Program (ProGAS) on Children's Nutrition and Learning Environment: A Mixed-Methods Approach. Nutrients. 2025 Nov 15;17(22):3575. doi: 10.3390/nu17223575.
PubMed 41305624Destaw Z, Wencheko E, Kidane S, Endale M, Challa Y, Tiruneh M, Tamrat M, Samson H, Shaleka D, Ashenafi M. Impact of school meals on educational outcomes in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Public Health Nutr. 2022 Sep;25(9):2614-2624. doi: 10.1017/S1368980022000799. Epub 2022 Mar 28.
PubMed 35343425
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 2 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Impact of School Meal Program on Nutritional Status and Academic Performance Among Primary School Children: An Interventional Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07800208
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 455/IRC/BMR
- Conditions
- Malnutrition in Children
- Keywords
- School meal program, Child nutrition, Nutritional status, Academic performance, Body composition
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 496 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore - PakistanUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Nov 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 2 Sep 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This study will assess the impact of a school meal program on the nutritional status and academic performance of primary school children in Lahore, Pakistan. Children aged 6-11 years from selected government primary schools will participate in the study. Children in the intervention group will receive a balanced school meal during school hours for 12 weeks, providing approximately one-third of their daily energy requirement, while children in the control group will continue their usual dietary practices. The study will compare changes in children's nutritional status, including weight, height, body mass index, mid-upper arm circumference, and body composition, as well as school attendance and examination performance. The study will also examine whether nutritional status is related to academic performance.
Detailed description
Childhood nutrition is an important determinant of physical growth, cognitive development, and academic performance. Poor nutrition may affect children's physical health, concentration, school participation, and learning. School meal program provide an opportunity to improve children's access to nutritious food during school hours; however, there is limited evidence from Pakistan on their effects on both nutritional status and academic performance.
This study will be conducted among primary school children aged 6-11 years enrolled in Grades 1-5 in selected government primary schools in peri-urban areas of Lahore, Pakistan. The selected schools will be characterized by food insecurity, low socioeconomic status, limited access to basic facilities, and educational vulnerability. The study will use a school-based pre-post intervention design with a control group and will be conducted over 12 weeks.
Children in the intervention group will receive a school meal designed to provide approximately one-third of the daily energy requirement for school-aged children. Children in the control group will continue their usual dietary practices and regular school routine without receiving the study meal. Daily records will be maintained to monitor meal distribution and consumption among children in the intervention group, with support from teachers and school staff.
Changes in nutritional status will be assessed before and after the 12-week intervention using anthropometric measurements, including height, weight, BMI-for-age, and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC). Body composition will also be assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis to obtain indicators such as fat mass and muscle mass.
Educational outcomes will be assessed using school records, including school attendance and examination scores. Pre- and post-intervention questionnaires will collect information on dietary intake, socioeconomic background, and general health to provide additional information for interpretation of the study findings.
The primary objective of the study is to assess the impact of the school meal program on the nutritional status and academic performance of primary school children in Lahore. The study will also examine the relationship between nutritional status and academic performance.
The findings are expected to provide locally relevant evidence regarding the potential contribution of school meal program to child nutrition and educational outcomes and may support evidence-based decision-making regarding school meal programs in Pakistan.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- Participants will be assigned to either an intervention group receiving the school meal program or a control group continuing their usual dietary practices. Both groups will be assessed before and after the 12-week study period to evaluate changes in nutritional status and academic performance.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| School Meal Intervention Group | Experimental | Other: School Meal ProgramChildren receiving the school meal program daily for 12 weeks in addition to their usual school routine |
| Control Group | No intervention | –Children continuing their usual school routine without receiving the school meal program during the 12-week study period |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 6 to 11 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Children aged 6-11 years (Grades 1-5).
- Children enrolled in the selected government primary schools.
- Children present on the day of data collection.
- Parental or guardian consent obtained.
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Children with chronic illness affecting growth.
- Students absent during data collection.
- Refusal of consent by parents or guardians.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| School Meal ProgramA daily school meal will be provided to primary school children for 12 weeks as part of a school meal program. The meal is designed to provide approximately one-third of the children's daily energy requirements and will be provided during the school day. | Other | School Meal Intervention Group |
Primary outcome
Change in body weight (kg)
Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks
Change in body weight from baseline to 12 weeks among children participating in the school meal intervention compared with the control group. Body weight will be measured in kilograms using standardized anthropometric procedures.
Change in body mass index (BMI, kg/m²)
Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks
Change in body mass index from baseline to 12 weeks among children participating in the school meal intervention compared with the control group. BMI will be calculated from measured weight and height.
Change in mid-upper arm circumference
Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks
Change in Dietary Diversity Score (0-10)
Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks
Dietary diversity will be assessed based on the number of food groups consumed during the previous 24 hours. The score ranges from 0 to 10, with higher scores indicating greater dietary diversity. Scores of 0-3 indicate low dietary diversity, 4-5 indicate moderate dietary diversity, and >5 indicate high dietary diversity. Change from baseline to post-intervention will be reported as the difference in dietary diversity score.
5 secondary outcomes
Change in fat mass (kg)
Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks
Change in skeletal muscle mass (kg)
Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks
Change in school attendance rate (%)
Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks
Number of participants reporting acute illness episodes
Time frame: During the 12-week intervention
Change in academic test score (%)
Time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 2 Sep 2026.
- Results publication: PubMed 41305624Pramesthi IL, Wiradnyani LAA, Anggraini R, Februhartanty J, Widaryat W, Waluyo BH, Wahyunto AT, Mansyur M, Fahmida U. Evaluating the Impact of Indonesia's National School Feeding Program (ProGAS) on Children's Nutrition and Learning Environment: A Mixed-Methods Approach. Nutrients. 2025 Nov 15;17(22):3575. doi: 10.3390/nu17223575.
- Results publication: PubMed 35343425Destaw Z, Wencheko E, Kidane S, Endale M, Challa Y, Tiruneh M, Tamrat M, Samson H, Shaleka D, Ashenafi M. Impact of school meals on educational outcomes in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Public Health Nutr. 2022 Sep;25(9):2614-2624. doi: 10.1017/S1368980022000799. Epub 2022 Mar 28.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. Individual participant data will not be shared because the study involves data from children, and sharing individual-level data may pose privacy and confidentiality risks.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing School Meal Program in people with Malnutrition in Children, run by University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore - Pakistan at 1 site in Pakistan.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 2 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Pakistan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Esha, Food and Nutrition (+923245654401, eshashakeel.pro@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in body weight (kg) (time frame: Baseline to 12 weeks). The study lists 4 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07800208, which also lists 2 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 2 Sep 2026.