Transcript Preventing Obesity in Children and Adolescents

Osnovna škola Bartola Kašića
Vinkovci
Erasmus+
Young Enterprising Europeans
PREVENTION PROGRAM
November 2016
Alcoholism, drug abuse and violence are a big problem
in the modern world. Children and teenagers are exposed to
dangers every day. In order to help them stay healthy
Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Health, the Department of
Public Health, Ministry of Environment and Energy and
schools in Croatia decided to start a project
“Zdrav za 5” (In Excellent Health).
Target group are pupils in the eighth form of primary school
and in the first and second form of secondary school.
The program has four components:
- elimination of violence
- preventing addiction (alcohol, drugs, smoking, games)
- preventing obesity
- developing environmental awareness
Our school is active in all parts of the project. Younger
students are also included in it.
In 1999 the United Nations General Assembley
designated 25 November as the International Day for the
Elimination of Violence against Women, and invited
governments to organize activities designed to raise public
awareness of the problem.
Violence against women is a human rights violation.
Violence continues to be a global pandemic, but it is not
inevitable. Prevention is possible and essential.
On 25 November 2016 Mrs Mirna Marić, from the Ministry
of the Interior, conducted a lecture about preventing violence
and dealing with it for the 7th graders (43 students).
Students had the opportunity to learn how to ask for help and
who to turn to if they become victims of violence.
Students who are in the 8th grade (48 students) were
informed about the dangers of drinking. Children are
experimenting with alcohol at earlier ages than ever before.
Underage drinking is a problem which can lead to
- binge drinking
- impaired brain
development
- drink driving
- injury or death
- involvement in
violent behaviours
Parents cannot prevent their teenagers from
experimenting with alcohol, but they can encourage responsible
behaviour.
Suggestions include:
- offer good role modelling
- offer them a loving, supportive home life
- start teaching a child about alcohol from an early age
- explain the downside of heavy drinking
- educate your child on the links between drinking and
dangerous behaviour
- encourage your teenager to talk with their friends about the
dangers of alcohol
Governments can:
- help schools to implement educational programs on the use
and misuse of alcohol
- restrict alcohol advertising
Preventing Obesity in Children and Adolescents
Obesity has also become a probelm. Young people don’t
get enough physical activity and lots of them have poor eating
habits. Obesity can lead to serious health problems:
- high blood pressure
- sleep apnea
- diabetes
- heart disease
- some forms of cancer
On 28 September 2016 doctors from the Department of
Public Health came to our school and explained the students in
the 8th grade the importance of healthy lifestyle for their
future schooling and life. They also talked about the dangers of
being overweight or even obese.
Doctors and nurses measured students’ weight and height,
calculated their body mass index (BMI) and told them if they
were overweight or not.
There are a number of steps to prevent obesity:
- parents should be a role model and eat healthy foods
- encourage physical activity
- reduce time in front of the TV and computer
- serve at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily
- encourage children to drink water instead of soft drinks with
added sugar
- encourage children to eat only when hungry and to eat slowly
Environmental Education
We try to teach our students how to live sustainably,
prevent pollution and make recycling a habit.
On 14 October 2016 more than 50 students and 6 teachers
attended a presentation about the remediation of a landfill in
the part of Vinkovci called Papuk. The area of former landfill
is being turned into a nice park and recreational area.
The logo of the project is “Papuk – pluća Vinkovaca”.
Our fourth graders took part in a quiz about recycling,
separating the rubbish and other activities important for
keeping the environment clean.
They took the competition very seriously and had prepared
for it with the help of their teachers.
The city of Vinkovci has a mobile recycling yard which is put
in a different part of the town every day and we can get rid of
plastic, batteries, glass, old shoes and clothes, oil, etc.
After the quiz students went in front of the hotel and got
some items which had to be put in the right container of the
mobile recycling yard. They competed in groups, but all
groups were awarded for their effort.
Students learned by doing and it
was fun.