Published Paper Details:

Healthy eating during childhood is essential for optimal growth, development, and the prevention of nutrition-related diseases. However, increasing consumption of junk food, inadequate nutritional awareness, and sedentary lifestyles have led to unhealthy eating habits among school-aged children. Schools provide an ideal environment for nutrition education, and innovative teaching strategies such as game-based learning have shown promise in improving children's knowledge, attitudes, and dietary behaviors. High-quality evidence, including the randomized controlled trial by Kato-Lin et al. (2020), demonstrated that mobile game-based interventions can positively influence children's food choices. Furthermore, systematic reviews by Nora Suleiman-Martos et al. (2021) and Mohapatra and Mohandas (2024) support the effectiveness of gamification in nutrition education, while recent Indian school-based studies (2024) indicate its relevance in culturally similar settings. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of game-based learning in promoting healthy eating habits among school children at Santhapeta School, Chittoor District, Andhra Pradesh. Specifically, it evaluates changes in students' knowledge, attitudes, and healthy eating practices following a game-based educational intervention. The findings are expected to provide evidence for integrating gamified nutrition education into school health programs, thereby encouraging healthier food choices and contributing to the prevention of childhood obesity and other diet-related health problems.