Nutrition and physical activity environments in primary schools in Poland - COSI study

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Pediatric Obesity Prevention
• School Environment Research

Background:

• Schools are crucial settings for promoting healthy diets and physical activity.
• Interventions in schools can help prevent lifestyle-related chronic diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the physical activity and nutrition environment in Polish elementary schools.
• To examine how school location and size influence these environments.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the World Health Organization's European Childhood Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) in 135 Polish schools (2016).
• Employed logistic regression to analyze associations between school characteristics and environmental indicators.
• Developed a positive school environmental assessment index based on 20 questions.

Main Results:

• Large, urban schools offered more sweet snacks; small, rural schools more sugary flavored milk.
• Urban-rural location significantly correlated with indoor gym availability, canteens, and shops.
• School size, not location, showed significant differences in the environmental assessment index, with large schools scoring highest.

Conclusions:

• School size is a primary factor adversely affecting the healthy nutrition and physical activity environment.
• Small schools, in both rural and urban settings, experience an 'exclusion syndrome'.
• Systemic and social interventions are needed to enhance infrastructure and opportunities for healthy lifestyles in small schools.