Like many other countries, China too is experiencing rising problems with obesity. Not only is obesity amongst adults a problem, but childhood obesity is also on the rise. Often, childhood obesity continues into adulthood, and is a strong marker of future non-communicable diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke etc. Unhealthy diet and physical inactivity are the most important factors contributing to obesity.To control the rising trend of childhood obesity and future risk of NCDs, awareness and education can play a significant role. Educating children about healthy lifestyle gives them an opportunity to perform healthy choices and live healthier lives.The objective of the project is to arrest the rising trend in lifestyle diseases by promoting healthy lifestyle for school children.
Chinese Young Volunteers Association will be responsible for the initiation and management of this project. Tangyou Media will provide media support to increase awareness of the project, while Novo Nordisk China Pharmaceutical will provide logistics support during the project implementation.The project will be implemented in 9 cities and 45 schools. The selected cities include: Zhengzhou, Nanchang, Wuhan, Urumchi, Xi'an, Shenyang, Chengdu, Hangzhou and Qingdao, which are placed both in developed and less developed regions of China.A multi-disciplinary team of volunteers from multiple fields like pediatrics, nutrition, endocrinology, psychology, health education and physical training will be trained as trainers in the first phase of the project. During a two day training session, the volunteers will discuss the epidemiology of childhood obesity, prevention/intervention strategies for healthier lifestyle, clinical treatment approach as well as how to provide training to school teachers, who will then implement the program in different schools.Fifteen teachers from each of the selected schools will be trained by the volunteers on the school's role in the prevention of childhood obesity, how schools can promote a healthy lifestyle and how to deliver health education to children and their families.The children will receive education in healthy lifestyle behavior and health promotion and children who are overweight and obese will receive additional attention. The general group will receive health education 1-2 times per month, which will be based on creating knowledge of healthy lifestyle, nutrition, physical activity and prevention of obesity. A toolkit with easy-to-understand information will be provided from which they can draw inspiration at home to also support their families. Furthermore, 15-20 children will be trained as peer educators who will form a support group to keep the program rolling.The intensive intervention group will in addition to the other groups get two extra classes of physical education per week and will be provided with pedometers to measure their activity with the goal of increasing their daily steps with up to 1,000 - 2,000 per week until they reach 10,000 per day. Follow-up activities will be organised half yearly or yearly and will include workshops on healthy lifestyle and health checks.
- 108 trainers trained in health promotion (ToT)- 18,000 children educated in healthy living- Lifestyle modification activities conducted for 1,800 high risk children and 1,800 families- Health promotion conducted in 45 schools in 9 cities- 675 school teachers trained in health promotion