Adopting healthy habits through the collaboration of health, education and culture systems

Abstract

Abstract Background The ’Adopt healthy habits’ program is a health promotion program that links the health system, education system and the City of Zagreb library. It is based on the association of mental, physical and emotional health factors. It is done through work in smaller groups, using educational interactive materials and methods with selected books in accordance with the topic of the workshop and with the practice of applying the adopted knowledge. Methods of work The methodological basis of the programs are health workshops conducted in the libraries of the City of Zagreb in cooperation with the primary schools. They imply working with students by acting on risk factors: obesity, physical inactivity, smoking and low self-esteem. The skills used are promoting health, cognitive-behavioral methods, health education, kinesiology, nutrition and bibliotherapy. Objectives Educating students about the importance and ways of adopting healthy habits and gaining self-esteem and reducing the occurrence of risky behaviors. Long-term objectives are improvement of the psychophysical development of students, increase of the population of the City of Zagreb with balanced dietary habits and regular physical activity and normal body mass index and reduction of the occurrence of chronic non-communicable diseases in adulthood. Results In the period from 2015 to 2018, a total of 141 workshops were conducted through which 3,106 pupils were educated. The workshops were conducted in 12 primary schools of the City of Zagreb and 5 of the related city libraries. Conclusions Interactive approaches in the creative environment proved to be the most appropriate in educative work with children. It is necessary to continue to implement this form of primary prevention on a wider population. Key messages Adopting healthy habits in childhood is the basis for primary prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases. Multidisciplinary approach to health education in youth assures a more permanent adoption of positive health behavior.