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In South Africa, as in many other developing countries, the increased urbanisation is associated with changes in lifestyle towards a pattern of high intake of unhealthy food and low levels of physical activity.
Unhealthy eating habits and lack of exercise constitute some of the most significant risk factors for obesity, which again is strongly associated with the development of diabetes and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
There is good evidence that childhood obesity very often persists into adulthood. For that reason, promotion of healthy living in children can be expected to have a huge impact with regards to preventing obesity and NCDs in the adult population.
In South Africa, 16% of 13-year olds, and 26% of 19-year olds are overweight or obese. This study seeks to address this problem by promoting healthy lifestyle among school children.
Objective
The aim of the project is to develop, implement and assess a school-based intervention programme aimed at promoting healthy lifestyle and preventing development of type 2 diabetes.
Approach
The project is divided into 3 phases:
In the first phase, baseline data will be collected to assess the prevalence of risk behaviours, namely unhealthy eating habits, physical inactivity and tobacco and alcohol use, in the target population (i.e. school children, parents and teachers). In addition, it will be assessed whether the school environment needs to be improved to support a healthy lifestyle.
In the second phase of the project, a 3-year intervention programme as well as instruments for evaluating the programme will be developed. The programme will primarily focus on promoting healthy eating habits and physical activity among the participants. However, components aimed at increasing awareness on health consequences of tobacco and alcohol use will also be included in the programme.
The programme will be implemented in 4 rural and 4 urban schools in areas with poor income. Primary school teachers will be trained to implement the developed curriculum, and health promotion activities will be conducted targetting children and their parents.
The effectiveness of the intervention programme will be assessed in the third phase. The target group will be re-tested in order to compare the data with baseline data as well as data collected from 8 control schools, where the intervention has not taken place.
If proven effective, the programme will be used to persuade policy makers to implement the programme in government schools.
Expected impact
- Intervention programme will be developed and implemented in 4 rural and 4 urban schools
- 40 primary school teachers trained
- 800 children and 1,600 parents will receive education in healthy lifestyle
Results to date
- The intervention programme for schools is in its first phase. It comprises a school-based self-assessment of the school health environment with respect to healthy eating, physical activity, tobacco, and risks for diabetes, along with other chronic diseases.
- Health checks for teachers that will form part of the intervention have been completed in 82 schools. Teachers are provided with a “report card” for their health risks.
- 8 intervention and 8 control schools have been selected in consultation with the management teams of the two local government Educational District Management Centres.
- All baseline data on the school environment have been collected. All teachers have been tested, and all children and parents are scheduled to be tested at baseline.
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