ChocHealth for Kids! The effects of dark chocolate on children’s blood pressure

INTERVENTION: 6 ‐ 7 g of dark chocolate rich in antioxidants will be delivered by teachers to each participant in intervention arm classes on school days over School Term 4, in 2010 (about 8 weeks), and none will be given to participants in control arm classes. Outcome assessments will be performed before and after intervention. CONDITION: Hypertension ; Circulatory System ; Hypertension PRIMARY OUTCOME: Measured at baseline and 8 weeks:; 1. Acceptability and feasibility of the study as assessed by recruitment rate and participant ; (students and teachers) feedback; 2. Blood pressure outcomes between intervention and control groups SECONDARY OUTCOME: Measured at baseline and 8 weeks:; 1. Anthropometry ‐ weight, height, BMI and waist girth; 2. Percentage body fat, as measured by multiple frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA); 3. Health‐related quality of life and body image ‐ assessed through the 23‐item PEDS QL 4.0 Child Self‐Report, a validated measure of child quality of life, and a pictorial body perception and preference scale used in many of our previous studies INCLUSION CRITERIA: All Grade 5 and 6 children (aged between 10 ‐ 13 years old, either sex) in participating classes whose parents consent