Eighth International Conference on Food Studies

Abstract

The application of national nutrition program in the deprived cities of Iran for schoolers aged 6-12 years old has been regarded as the step to fight hidden hunger observed among students in low-income families. The efficacy and its relationship with the academic loss has been in the agenda of social and educational authorities in a decade. The educational changes of the students enjoying the national nutrition program can be a criterion to spread or remove the program Through a simple clustering sampling, 200 students in four cities of Iran, Zahedan, Bafgh, Tehran, Ilam were chosen, who enjoyed the national nutrition program (one serving in school hours) and the amount of their participation in sports and extracurricular activities as well as their success in local and national school examination were determined. There was a relative academic success for 20% of the students in Zahedan while this figure reached 35% Bafgh with 15% in Tehran. For Ilam, the rate was negligible. In sports activities, there was a significant low rate of participation and the amount of sports participation or extracurricular activities was at the zero level. Relying on one serving in school hours to remove the hidden hunger students suffer from in low-income families in different cities along with ignoring other socio-economic factors has been the most important weakness point of such program. The hunger exacerbated with family stresses and conflicts must be seen in different aspects and from the early ages of preschooling.