The effectiveness of ‘eat right, future bright: nutrition education program’ (ERFB-NEP) module for aboriginal primary school children in Malaysia

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of the Eat Right, Future Bright: Nutrition Education Program (ERFB-NEP) improved nutrition knowledge, attitudes, dietary habits, physical activity, eating behaviors, and body measurements among Orang Asli primary school children at SK Bukit Lanjan. A quasi-experimental pre- and post-test design included 49 students aged 11 to 12 years. To collect data, we used a Nutrition Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) questionnaire, the Children’s Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ), the Children’s Physical Activity Questionnaire (CPAQ), and anthropometric measurements (weight, height, BMI-for- age, and height-for-age) before the intervention. The five-week ERFB-NEP module featured interactive, culturally tailored lessons that focused on balanced nutrition, food choices, hygiene, and physical activity. CEBQ results indicated that the children enjoyed food a lot and responded moderately to food, with no significant gender differences. CPAQ data showed that most children achieved moderate physical activity levels, with slightly more girls (86.4%) than boys (71.4%) in this range. Results showed a statistically significant increase in nutrition knowledge scores (p < 0.001). Attitude and practice scores also improved, but did not reach statistical significance. Overall, the ERFB-NEP module was effective in improving nutrition knowledge and supporting better growth and health behaviors among Orang Asli schoolchildren. The program was well-received, feasible for school delivery, and shows potential for broader implementation. Ongoing efforts to include culturally sensitive nutrition education in school curricula are suggested to maintain long-term health results in