Differences in school environment, school policy and actions regarding overweight prevention between Dutch schools. A nationwide survey
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Schools are regarded as an important setting for the prevention of overweight. This study presents a nationally representative picture of the obesogenity of the school environment, the awareness of schools regarding overweight, and a...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2010-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/10/42 |
| _version_ | 1818553266776047616 |
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| author | Buijs Goof Rutz Suzanne I Middelbeek Lideke Scholtens Salome Bemelmans Wanda JE |
| author_facet | Buijs Goof Rutz Suzanne I Middelbeek Lideke Scholtens Salome Bemelmans Wanda JE |
| author_sort | Buijs Goof |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Schools are regarded as an important setting for the prevention of overweight. This study presents a nationally representative picture of the obesogenity of the school environment, the awareness of schools regarding overweight, and actions taken by the schools aiming at overweight prevention. In addition, differences between school levels were studied.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In 2006-2007, questionnaires were sent to all Dutch secondary schools (age group 12-18 years). Prevalences of the outcome variables were calculated for the schools in total and by school level. The association between school level and outcome variables were analysed by a log linear regression.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Unhealthy foods and drinks are widely available at secondary schools. One third of the schools indicated that overweight has increased among students and half of the schools agreed that schools were (co)responsible for the prevention of overweight. Only 3% of the schools have a policy on overweight prevention. Small differences were observed between vocational education schools and higher education schools. The presence of vending machines did not differ by school level, but at vocational education schools, the content of the vending machines was less healthy.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study describes the current situation at schools which is essential for the development and evaluation of future overweight prevention policies and interventions. In general, secondary schools are not actively involved in overweight prevention and the nutritional environment at most schools could be improved. The small differences between school levels do not give reason for a differential approach for a certain school level for overweight prevention.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T09:23:40Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-138493b91f1846a3aed8ea77fa8667e0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T09:23:40Z |
| publishDate | 2010-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-138493b91f1846a3aed8ea77fa8667e02022-12-22T00:29:07ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582010-01-011014210.1186/1471-2458-10-42Differences in school environment, school policy and actions regarding overweight prevention between Dutch schools. A nationwide surveyBuijs GoofRutz Suzanne IMiddelbeek LidekeScholtens SalomeBemelmans Wanda JE<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Schools are regarded as an important setting for the prevention of overweight. This study presents a nationally representative picture of the obesogenity of the school environment, the awareness of schools regarding overweight, and actions taken by the schools aiming at overweight prevention. In addition, differences between school levels were studied.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In 2006-2007, questionnaires were sent to all Dutch secondary schools (age group 12-18 years). Prevalences of the outcome variables were calculated for the schools in total and by school level. The association between school level and outcome variables were analysed by a log linear regression.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Unhealthy foods and drinks are widely available at secondary schools. One third of the schools indicated that overweight has increased among students and half of the schools agreed that schools were (co)responsible for the prevention of overweight. Only 3% of the schools have a policy on overweight prevention. Small differences were observed between vocational education schools and higher education schools. The presence of vending machines did not differ by school level, but at vocational education schools, the content of the vending machines was less healthy.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study describes the current situation at schools which is essential for the development and evaluation of future overweight prevention policies and interventions. In general, secondary schools are not actively involved in overweight prevention and the nutritional environment at most schools could be improved. The small differences between school levels do not give reason for a differential approach for a certain school level for overweight prevention.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/10/42 |
| spellingShingle | Buijs Goof Rutz Suzanne I Middelbeek Lideke Scholtens Salome Bemelmans Wanda JE Differences in school environment, school policy and actions regarding overweight prevention between Dutch schools. A nationwide survey BMC Public Health |
| title | Differences in school environment, school policy and actions regarding overweight prevention between Dutch schools. A nationwide survey |
| title_full | Differences in school environment, school policy and actions regarding overweight prevention between Dutch schools. A nationwide survey |
| title_fullStr | Differences in school environment, school policy and actions regarding overweight prevention between Dutch schools. A nationwide survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Differences in school environment, school policy and actions regarding overweight prevention between Dutch schools. A nationwide survey |
| title_short | Differences in school environment, school policy and actions regarding overweight prevention between Dutch schools. A nationwide survey |
| title_sort | differences in school environment school policy and actions regarding overweight prevention between dutch schools a nationwide survey |
| url | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/10/42 |
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