Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Studies with a control group and a follow-up of at least 3 months were eligible for inclusion. Studies where the effects of the fruit and vegetable interventions could not be separated from other intervention components were excluded. Most of the included studies were randomised controlled trials (RCTs). The follow-up periods in the included studies ranged from 3 months to 4 years.
Specific interventions included in the review
Studies reporting a fruit and vegetable intervention, or promotion programmes encouraging the consumption of fruit and/or vegetables, were eligible for inclusion. This encompassed large-scale fruit and vegetable promotions, nutrition education and information approaches, social marketing approaches and production increase approaches (e.g. home gardening). Individual or population-based interventions were eligible. The interventions in the included studies were classroom-based, school-wide, encompassed school food or nutrition policy, targeted the involvement of teachers, peer leaders, school food service staff, parents or the community (markets, local media), or a combination of these components. All but one intervention was school-based.
Participants included in the review
Studies on children and adolescents were eligible for inclusion. Excluded were studies on acutely ill or institutionalised individuals. The included studies targeted primary and secondary school aged children aged 5 to 18 years old and were mainly based in the USA.
Outcomes assessed in the review
The studies had to report fruit and vegetable intake to be eligible. The review reported results as effect sizes (servings per day) or as not significant.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
The authors did not state how the papers were selected for the review, or how many reviewers performed the selection.