A school-based intervention for a better future: study protocol of Sintra Grows Healthy

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pediatrics
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Childhood obesity is a significant public health concern requiring urgent attention.
• Governments must prioritize creating healthy school environments to improve children's health.
• Existing interventions for childhood obesity prevention are often not homogeneous or community-based.

Purpose of the Study:

• To promote healthy lifestyles among children to prevent obesity.
• To enhance children's health-related quality of life and social-emotional skills.
• To develop a sustainable, evidence-based school model for obesity prevention.

Main Methods:

• Quasi-experimental design and community-based participatory research.
• Study involves the school community of Portuguese public primary schools in Sintra.
• Data collection includes demographics, nutritional status, eating habits, physical activity, sedentary behaviors, sleep, quality of life, and social-emotional skills.

Main Results:

• Evidence supports school-based interventions for obesity prevention.
• Sintra Grows Healthy addresses the gap in homogeneous, community-based interventions.
• The study aims to provide findings for improved policymaker and societal strategies.

Conclusions:

• School settings are effective for childhood obesity prevention strategies.
• The Sintra Grows Healthy model fills a critical gap in current interventions.
• Findings will inform public health policies and societal approaches to childhood obesity.