NASA Mission X Program for Healthy Eating and Active Living among Taiwanese Elementary School Students

Purpose: This study assessed the effects of an intervention program adapted from the NASA Mission X (MX) program on children's Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) knowledge and behaviors and anthropometry. Methods: This clustered randomized control trial recruited 8 elementary schools in remote rural areas of Northern Taiwan. The intervention was the 8-week MX program. All the 3rd and 4th graders were invited to the study (n = 245). Children's weight, height, HEAL knowledge and behaviors were measured pre- and post-intervention. Results: The intervention group had significantly more improvements than control group in physical activity knowledge score (+0.91 vs. +0.25, p = 0.002), diet knowledge score (+0.62 vs. +0.17, p = 0.044), and score of interests in NASA and space exploration (+0.34 vs. −0.07, p < 0.0001). BMI increased from 18.4 to 18.6 (p < 0.05) for the control group but did not change for the intervention group. The changes in BMI between groups did not differ significantly. Conclusion and practice implications: This randomized controlled trial showed that the NASA MX program was feasible and acceptable among children in Taiwan, and improved children's HEAL knowledge. (ClinicalTrials.gov