WHO report calls for nutrition education in school curriculums

Childhood obesity undermines the physical, social and psychological wellbeing of children and is a known risk factor for adult obesity and noncommunicable diseases. There is an urgent need to act now to improve the health of this generation and the next.*

The Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity (ECHO) has released a final report, recommending measures to address the global childhood obesity crisis.

The report proposes six main recommendations for governments to reverse the rising trend of overweight and obesity in young children:

1. Promote intake of healthy foods
2. Promote physical activity
3. Preconception and pregnancy care
4. Early childhood diet and physical activity
5. Health, nutrition and physical activity for school-age children: Implement comprehensive programmes that promote healthy school environments, health and nutrition literacy and physical activity among school-age children and adolescents
6. Weight management.

The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation is very pleased to see an emphasis on food education programs in schools, with Recommendation 5 calling for the inclusion of ‘nutrition and health education within the core curriculum in schools’.

Take a look at this helpful infographic for an outline of recommendations.

Providing support to schools and learning centres to provide effective, pleasurable food education to children is the major aim of the Foundation’s partnership with Medibank, which is committed to Growing Healthy Kids.

The Foundation and Medibank know that children provided with positive role modelling, regular exposure to structured garden and kitchen classes, and encouragement to learn and love growing, harvesting, preparing and sharing their own fresh, seasonal delicious food, are more likely to develop positive food habits for life.

We are absolutely thrilled and excited by the WHO’s acknowledgement of the effectiveness of school-based food education in addressing the childhood obesity crisis.

To read through the full report please see the Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity website.

The Foundation looks forward to continuing to support Australian communities to bring pleasurable food education to children and families, in line with the WHO recommendations. For more information on how you can get involved please join our mailing list.

*Report of the commission on ending childhood obesity, World Health Organization 2016, p. 45.