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The Healthy Primary School of the Future: study protocol of a quasi-experimental study
M Willeboordse1, M W Jansen2,3, S N van den Heijkant1
1Department of Family Medicine, School of Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Insights
This study evaluates two healthy school interventions to combat childhood obesity and unhealthy lifestyles. The research focuses on improving children's body mass index (BMI) and overall well-being through innovative school programs.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Health Promotion
Background:
- Childhood unhealthy lifestyles present a global health challenge, often perpetuating intergenerational cycles of health and social issues.
- Early intervention is crucial to disrupt these cycles and promote long-term health outcomes.
- Novel school-based programs offer a promising avenue for addressing these pervasive lifestyle challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of two novel healthy school interventions on children's health.
- To assess the impact of these interventions on body mass index (BMI), lifestyle behaviors, academic achievement, and child well-being.
- To examine the socio-economic differences and societal costs associated with childhood unhealthy lifestyles and interventions.
Main Methods:
- A quasi-experimental design comparing 1200 children in four intervention schools with 1200 children in four control schools in the Netherlands.
- Implementation of two distinct whole-school approaches: 'The Healthy Primary School of the Future' (including healthy lunch, physical activity, and educational activities) and 'The Physical Activity School' (focusing on physical activity).
- Data collection over 4 years, including baseline and yearly follow-up measurements from September 2015 to 2019, with registration on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02800616).
Main Results:
- The study is designed to measure changes in children's body mass index (BMI) as the primary outcome.
- Secondary outcomes include improvements in lifestyle behaviors, academic performance, and overall child well-being.
- The research will also analyze cost-effectiveness and potential societal impacts.
Conclusions:
- The 'Healthy Primary School of the Future' and 'Physical Activity School' interventions have the potential to serve as a global template for primary schools.
- These multifaceted, evidence-based programs may yield significant positive effects beyond health and academic outcomes, influencing societal and cultural aspects.
- The study's findings will contribute valuable insights into effective strategies for combating childhood obesity and promoting lifelong healthy lifestyles.
Background:
Unhealthy lifestyles in early childhood are a major global health challenge. These lifestyles often persist from generation to generation and contribute to a vicious cycle of health-related and social problems. This design article presents a study evaluating the effects of two novel healthy school interventions. The main outcome measure will be changes in children's body mass index (BMI). In addition, lifestyle behaviours, academic achievement, child well-being, socio-economic differences, and societal costs will be examined.
Methods:
In close collaboration with various stakeholders, a quasi-experimental study was developed, for which children of four intervention schools (n = 1200) in the southern part of the Netherlands are compared with children of four control schools (n = 1200) in the same region. The interventions started in November 2015. In two of the four intervention schools, a whole-school approach named 'The Healthy Primary School of the Future', is implemented with the aim of improving physical activity and dietary behaviour. For this intervention, pupils are offered an extended curriculum, including a healthy lunch, more physical exercises, and social and educational activities, next to the regular school curriculum. In the two other intervention schools, a physical-activity school approach called 'The Physical Activity School', is implemented, which is essentially similar to the other intervention, except that no lunch is provided. The interventions proceed during a period of 4 years. Apart from the effectiveness of both interventions, the process, the cost-effectiveness, and the expected legal implications are studied. Data collection is conducted within the school system. The baseline measurements started in September 2015 and yearly follow-up measurements are taking place until 2019.
Discussion:
A whole-school approach is a new concept in the Netherlands. Due to its innovative, multifaceted nature and sound scientific foundation, these integrated programmes have the potential to form a template for primary schools worldwide. The effects of this approach may extend further than the outcomes associated with well-being and academic achievement, potentially impacting legal and cultural aspects in our society.
Trial Registration:
The study protocol was registered in the database ClinicalTrials.gov on 14-06-2016 with the reference number NCT02800616 .
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