Model of Childhood Obesity Primary Prevention Programme

Abstract

Introduction: The high frequency of obesity and overweight in our country highlights the necessity for immediate preventive measures. Aim: The aim of this work has been to present the model of childhood obesity primary prevention programme in North Backa Region. Primary prevention program “My Heart, Healthy Heart” with parallel conducting the strategy of high risk and population nutrition and health promotion strategy by the aid of several pieces of software. Methods: Monitoring of body weight and height recorded during a mass screening of 29.237 boys and 27.753 girls aged 1-19 years in health centres in the period 1995 2003. Evidence and statistical evaluation of data have been processed by software CHILD determining the nutritional status according to reference values of the BMI NHANES I and body weight in regard to age to NCHS/WHO. The individual level involves continuous longitudinal growth and nutritional status monitoring, identification of children with nutritive risk factors or with positive family history for selective screening of biochemical parameters and healthy lifestyle and nutrition counselling Results: Analyzing the nutritional status of children age 6-18 overweight (BMI P85-95) was registered in 9.3%-11.1% girls and boys, and obesity (BMI>P95) in 5.9-6.2% of them. Body weight by age >P95 was established in 13.9-14.4% of children age 1-6. The population level starting from second year of life, by harmonizing life style and nutritional habits with recommendations. The main characteristics of the population strategy are: changing nutrition and lifestyle in whole population over 2 year, following the quality of family nutrition with recommendations for changing nutrition, following the quality of social nutrition with planning and corrections of menus, education about healthy nutrition within cooks, pedagogues, children, parents and by all means the whole society with mass-media help, as well as organising the celebration of World Food Day in October ,”Festival about healthy nutrition and physical activity” for preschool and schoolchildren in order to promote healthy nutrition and lifestyle. Conclusions: Permanent nutrition promotion with monitoring of the nutritional status in children has been established in order to early discovery obesity and nutritive risk factors on individual an/or population level to childhood obesity prevention and realize optimal nutritional status of children and adolescents.