Child NutritionNCT07817485
The Effect of Therapeutic Play on Eating Behaviors in Primary School Children
A study testing HEALTHY EATING GAME in people with Child Nutrition and Feeding Behavior, run by Gazi University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
Primary health care is a comprehensive, community-based approach that aims to maximize health, well-being, and their equitable distribution through three main components (WHO, 2025). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 9 to 11 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Child Nutrition, Feeding Behavior, Emotional Eating
- What is being tested?
- HEALTHY EATING GAME
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 116 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 10 Mar 2026to 29 Sep 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
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 9 to 11 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child
Who may be able to join
- Able to read and write in Turkish
- Pupils in Years 3 and 4 of primary school
- Children and their families who agree to take part in the study,
- Those who do not see a dietitian
Who cannot join
- Having a diagnosed psychological condition
- Withdrawal Criteria
- Those unable to participate fully in the programme
- Those who do not complete the questionnaires
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Sincan Alparslan Primary School
Ankara, Ankara, 06930
About this study
Official title: The Effect of the Therapeutic Play Method Implemented in Primary School on Healthy Eating and Emotional Eating Behaviors
Primary health care is a comprehensive, community-based approach that aims to maximize health, well-being, and their equitable distribution through three main components (WHO, 2025). Its key components, identified at the Alma-Ata Conference, include health education; environmental sanitation, particularly food and water; maternal and child health programs, including immunization and family planning; prevention of endemic diseases; appropriate treatment of common diseases and injuries; provision of essential medicines; promotion of healthy nutrition; and mental health promotion (Eren, 1982).
It is anticipated that a study aimed at fostering healthy eating habits in children through the use of therapeutic play methods will raise family awareness, facilitate the delivery of effective health education to children, highlight the role of nurses in safeguarding child health, and ultimately improve public health.
Read more
This study was conducted to determine the effect of the therapeutic play method-applied within the scope of primary health care services in schools-on children's emotional eating behaviors and to foster their belief in their ability to make healthy food choices.
Research Hypotheses H1: The mean total scores on the emotional eating scale for children in the intervention group are lower than those for the control group.
H2: : The mean total scores on the food behaviour scale for children in the intervention group are higher than those for the control group.
Variables of the Study Independent variables The independent variables of the study are the children's socio-demographic characteristics (age, gender).
On the first day, the children were asked to complete the 'Child and Family Information Form', the 'Eating Behaviour Scale' and the Emotional Eating Scale for Children and Adolescents.
A three-week program will be administered to the intervention group by the researchers.
A 3-week gamified healthy eating program was implemented for children in the intervention group. In the first week, children used green and red cards to identify whether nutrition-related statements were true or false, followed by explanations of the correct information by the researcher.
In the second week, a "Nutrition Heroes" game was conducted. Children matched foods with related nutrients, such as fish with omega-3 and protein, and participated in a group puzzle competition to identify healthy foods.
In the third week, activities focused on emotional eating awareness. Children watched a video about emotions, discussed their feelings, and participated interactively in a story about emotional eating. These activities aimed to improve children's healthy eating knowledge and awareness of the relationship between emotions and eating behavior.
Read the detailed description
Study design The study was conducted as a randomised controlled trial Research Population and Sample Selection The sample consisted of Year 3 and Year 4 pupils attending Alpaslan Primary School in the province of Ankara.
Inclusion Criteria Pupils able to read and write in Turkish
Pupils in Years 3 and 4 of primary school Children and their families who agreed to take part in the study, Those who do not visit a dietitian Exclusion Criteria Having a diagnosed psychological condition Withdrawal Criteria Those unable to participate fully in the programme Those who did not complete the questionnaires
- Conditions
- Child Nutrition, Feeding Behavior, Emotional Eating
- Being tested
- HEALTHY EATING GAME
- Keywords
- Healthy Eating, Nutrition Education, Emotional Eating, School-Aged Children, Gamification
- Medical subject headings
- Feeding Behavior, Emotional Eating
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
HEALTHY EATING GAMEBehavioural
A gamified educational programme focusing on healthy eating and emotional eating behaviours was delivered to the intervention group over a three-week period. The programme consisted of: in Week 1, true-false nutrition cards; in Week 2, food-vitamin/mineral matching exercises and a healthy eating puzzle; and in Week 3, an emotional awareness video and interactive storytelling activities on the topic of emotional eating.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental | Experimental | The group that followed a three-week healthy eating programme Receives: Behavioral: HEALTHY EATING GAME |
| No Intervention | No intervention | The control group will not take part in the healthy eating game. Once the study has been completed, they will receive one week of healthy eating education. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Child Food Behaviour Scale (FBS) score
Evaluates children's food consumption habits using a 14-item pictorial scale. Each item compares healthy (+1) and unhealthy (-1) food options. The total score ranges from -14 to +14, with higher scores indicating healthier eating habits.
Measured: Change from baseline at 3 weeks
Secondary outcomes (1)
Emotional Eating Scale for Children and Adolescents (EES-C) score
ssesses emotional eating behaviors in children and adolescents across 25 scored items. Items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 1 ("I want to eat very little") to 5 ("I want to eat excessively"). Total scores range from 25 to 125, with higher scores indicating an increase in eating behavior in response to negative emotional states.
Measured: Change from baseline at 3 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted14 Sep 2026
- Study start10 Mar 2026
- Primary completion29 Sep 2026
- Study completion29 Sep 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Child NutritionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Gazi UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- 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
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator
- Enrolment
- 116 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Gazi University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Özge KOKSAL, Gazi University
- Investigators
- Ebru b KILIÇARSLAN, Professor, Study director, Gazi UniversityÖzge z Köksal, Research Assistant, Principal investigator, Gazi University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07817485
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 790-790-11
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 4 Sep 2026
- Last updated
- 5 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Mogre V, Sefogah PE, Adetunji AW, Olalekan OO, Gaa PK, Ayettey Anie HNG, Tayo B. A school-based food and nutrition education intervention increases nutrition-related knowledge and fruit consumption among primary school children in northern Ghana. BMC Public Health. 2024 Jun 29;24(1):1739. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-19200-7.
PubMed 38951824
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 5 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect of the Therapeutic Play Method Implemented in Primary School on Healthy Eating and Emotional Eating Behaviors
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07817485
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 790-790-11
- Conditions
- Child Nutrition, Feeding Behavior, Emotional Eating
- Keywords
- Healthy Eating, Nutrition Education, Emotional Eating, School-Aged Children, Gamification
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 116 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Gazi UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 10 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 29 Sep 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 29 Sep 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 14 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.
Primary health care is a comprehensive, community-based approach that aims to maximize health, well-being, and their equitable distribution through three main components (WHO, 2025). Its key components, identified at the Alma-Ata Conference, include health education; environmental sanitation, particularly food and water; maternal and child health programs, including immunization and family planning; prevention of endemic diseases; appropriate treatment of common diseases and injuries; provision of essential medicines; promotion of healthy nutrition; and mental health promotion (Eren, 1982).
It is anticipated that a study aimed at fostering healthy eating habits in children through the use of therapeutic play methods will raise family awareness, facilitate the delivery of effective health education to children, highlight the role of nurses in safeguarding child health, and ultimately improve public health.
This study was conducted to determine the effect of the therapeutic play method-applied within the scope of primary health care services in schools-on children's emotional eating behaviors and to foster their belief in their ability to make healthy food choices.
Research Hypotheses H1: The mean total scores on the emotional eating scale for children in the intervention group are lower than those for the control group.
H2: : The mean total scores on the food behaviour scale for children in the intervention group are higher than those for the control group.
Variables of the Study Independent variables The independent variables of the study are the children's socio-demographic characteristics (age, gender).
On the first day, the children were asked to complete the 'Child and Family Information Form', the 'Eating Behaviour Scale' and the Emotional Eating Scale for Children and Adolescents.
A three-week program will be administered to the intervention group by the researchers.
A 3-week gamified healthy eating program was implemented for children in the intervention group. In the first week, children used green and red cards to identify whether nutrition-related statements were true or false, followed by explanations of the correct information by the researcher.
In the second week, a "Nutrition Heroes" game was conducted. Children matched foods with related nutrients, such as fish with omega-3 and protein, and participated in a group puzzle competition to identify healthy foods.
In the third week, activities focused on emotional eating awareness. Children watched a video about emotions, discussed their feelings, and participated interactively in a story about emotional eating. These activities aimed to improve children's healthy eating knowledge and awareness of the relationship between emotions and eating behavior.
Detailed description
Study design The study was conducted as a randomised controlled trial Research Population and Sample Selection The sample consisted of Year 3 and Year 4 pupils attending Alpaslan Primary School in the province of Ankara.
Inclusion Criteria Pupils able to read and write in Turkish
Pupils in Years 3 and 4 of primary school Children and their families who agreed to take part in the study, Those who do not visit a dietitian Exclusion Criteria Having a diagnosed psychological condition Withdrawal Criteria Those unable to participate fully in the programme Those who did not complete the questionnaires
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, investigator)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Experimental | Experimental | Behavioral: HEALTHY EATING GAMEThe group that followed a three-week healthy eating programme |
| No Intervention | No intervention | –The control group will not take part in the healthy eating game. Once the study has been completed, they will receive one week of healthy eating education. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 9 to 11 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Able to read and write in Turkish
- Pupils in Years 3 and 4 of primary school
- Children and their families who agree to take part in the study,
- Those who do not see a dietitian
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Having a diagnosed psychological condition
- Withdrawal Criteria
- Those unable to participate fully in the programme
- Those who do not complete the questionnaires
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 |
|---|---|---|
| HEALTHY EATING GAMEA gamified educational programme focusing on healthy eating and emotional eating behaviours was delivered to the intervention group over a three-week period. The programme consisted of: in Week 1, true-false nutrition cards; in Week 2, food-vitamin/mineral matching exercises and a healthy eating puzzle; and in Week 3, an emotional awareness video and interactive storytelling activities on the topic of emotional eating. | Behavioural | Experimental |
Primary outcome
Child Food Behaviour Scale (FBS) score
Time frame: Change from baseline at 3 weeks
Evaluates children's food consumption habits using a 14-item pictorial scale. Each item compares healthy (+1) and unhealthy (-1) food options. The total score ranges from -14 to +14, with higher scores indicating healthier eating habits.
1 secondary outcome
Emotional Eating Scale for Children and Adolescents (EES-C) score
Time frame: Change from baseline at 3 weeks
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 5 Oct 2026.
- Background: PubMed 38951824Mogre V, Sefogah PE, Adetunji AW, Olalekan OO, Gaa PK, Ayettey Anie HNG, Tayo B. A school-based food and nutrition education intervention increases nutrition-related knowledge and fruit consumption among primary school children in northern Ghana. BMC Public Health. 2024 Jun 29;24(1):1739. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-19200-7.
- Related InfoLink provided by the sponsor.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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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. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Ebru b KILIÇARSLAN, Professor study director
Gazi University
Özge z Köksal, Research Assistant principal investigator
Gazi University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing HEALTHY EATING GAME in people with Child Nutrition and Feeding Behavior, run by Gazi University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
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 4 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: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 5 Oct 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 Turkey (Türkiye). 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?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Child Food Behaviour Scale (FBS) score (time frame: Change from baseline at 3 weeks). 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 NCT07817485, which also lists 1 linked publication.
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 5 Oct 2026.