Maintaining a healthy body weight : a nutrition education programme for Year 3 primary school children

Abstract

A review of local and foreign research suggests that the prevalence of childhood obesity in Malta is increasing at an alarming rate. Obesity is a major risk factor in the development of diet related non-communicable diseases. Children's eating habits and physical activity patterns today will have short and long term implications on children's health. Based on this scenario, the study commenced with a number of interviews that were conducted with key informants to determine the main needs in the area. Following this, a nutritional education programme was designed, tested and implemented amongst Year 3 Primary School Children attending State, Church and Independent schools. This programme sought to motivate and guide children in making the right choices to maintain a healthy body weight when they are still at a very young and important age. Parents are children's primary food providers and for this reason another programme was developed for the parents. The ultimate aim was to increase the nutrition knowledge of these parents. A pre-post questionnaire was used to assess the effectiveness of the pupils' and their parents' programme. Overall results show that such programmes are effective enough to increase the nutritional knowledge of both pupils and parents. Based on the findings, a set of recommendations are proposed in an attempt to target future nutritional programmes/interventions that seek to promote a healthy body weight. An additional nutritional and fitness resource pack that could be used in Year 3 classrooms was created to serve as an extension of the pupils' programme. This resource pack includes a set of worksheets, and handouts on the five food groups, the Cindi Food Pyramid, healthy portions and also the importance of keeping physically fit. An interactive game was also designed to educate pupils on proper nutrition and health.