The effect of physical activity and nutrition education on primary school students on persentile, physical activity attitude and nutrition knowledge levels

This study examined the effects of a 10-week physical activity and nutrition education program on primary school students' percentiles, attitudes toward physical activity, and nutritional knowledge levels. The study sample group consisted of 281 fourth-grade students enrolled in schools affiliated with the Ministry of National Education in the Beypazarı district of Ankara who volunteered to participate. A three-group pretest–posttest quasi-experimental research design was employed. Data were analyzed using Mixed ANOVA. The results showed that posttest scores on the nutrition knowledge test increased significantly within the intervention group compared with pretest scores (p<0.05). However, no statistically significant differences were found between groups in posttest nutrition knowledge scores (p>0.05). Posttest scores for positive attitudes toward physical activity increased significantly within the group compared with pretest scores (p<0.05), but no significant differences were found between groups (p > 0.05). Negative attitude scores toward physical activity did not show a significant decrease within the group (p>0.05), although a statistically significant difference was detected between groups in the posttest scores for negative attitudes (p< 0.05). Percentile posttest scores increased significantly within the group compared to pretest scores (p<0.05), but no significant differences were observed between groups (p>0.05). In conclusion, the 10-week physical activity and nutrition education program had positive effects on students' attitudes toward physical activity and their percentile frequency numbers. However, the program did not produce statistically significant effects on nutrition knowledge levels or percentile mean values. Keywords: Nutrition, Nutrition Knowledge, Physical Activity, Physical Activity Attitude, Percentile