Implementing School Canteen Standards to Reduce Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity is a global issue that needs multifaceted response. Learn about the effective strategies to reduce childhood obesity by implementing school canteen standards. The Australian government has developed the Traffic Signal system to inform the content of menus and promote healthy food choices. Exposure to physical activities and alteration of lifestyle can also help in reducing the risk factors associated with obesity. Read the latest research and government sources on Desklib.

NUTR2003 Assessment 3 – Public Health Nutrition Strategy
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Part A
Topic/Title: Implementing school canteen standards to reduce childhood obesity.
Position Statement on Obesity
According to studies, it has been determined that nutrition is essential at every age in well-
being (Australian school canteens: menu guideline adherence or avoidance?, 2021). Nutrients have
considered as basic component for human body, in children it helps in development and growth,
staying healthy and strong as well. In children, its important to choose healthy food items such as
lean protein from sources like beans, seafood, milk, etc. (Rollings & Wells, 2018). Child should eat
fresh fruits, green leafy vegetables on daily purpose, as these can lead to balance diet for young
individuals. Child nutrition can be promoted in schools by implementing strategies which
demonstrate a better awareness of consumption of nutrients (Wolfenden, & et.al., 2020).
Childhood overweight or obesity is a complicated problem which needs multifaceted
response (Evans, Orihuela & Mrug, 2021). It has been widely acknowledge that over eating of
energy-dense and poor intake of nutrient (EDPN) food items plays an essential role in the
prevalence of childhood obesity. Globally, in 2019, there about 29% of boys and 25% of girls in
Australia, were classified as overweight(Australian school canteens: menu guideline adherence or
avoidance?, 2021).
In Australia, there several school organisations which offers food services within campus or
on-site tuck-shops which promotes unhealthy dietary pattern in population (Balestrin & et.al.,
2021). Also, through evidence study of Australia's school, found that there are wide range of

settings in which school's children are exposed to atmosphere which offers convenient access to
EDPN foods (Australian school canteens: menu guideline adherence or avoidance?, 2021). This
involves school canteens where they like to consume one third of their daily energy intake. As
schools have constant and intensive interaction with kids, so they have maximum opportunities to
promote healthy behaviours in children (Evans, Orihuela & Mrug, 2021).
The Australian state and territory government have determined the impact of school
canteens, and formulated measures as policies and guidelines in order to inform the content of
menus, so that school children be able to acquire healthier food choices and also it can help to
minimise exposure to EDPN (Wolfenden, & et.al., 2017). As per the NSW, Australia, the Fresh
Tastes at school healthy canteen strategy was to formulate the Starkey of traffic light system for the
reducing obese (Broccoli, & et. al., 2020). In order to inform content of menu, they have developed
traffic light system policy. In this policy, foods items are classifies by specific colour and each
colour has its own meaning. For example: red indicates not “endorse” or it can be allowed on
“occasion purpose”, whereas, amber is recondite to be sign of “select carefully” and green indicates
“everyday”. Moreover, most of state and territory also banned high-sugar soft as well as
confectionery drinks (Australian school canteens: menu guideline adherence or avoidance?, 2021).
Another considered strategy that can be taken in reducing risk factors associated with
obesity can be though exposing targeted population to physical activities and exercises. It has been
widely acknowledged that along with healthy nutritional diet, it is important fro children to do
physical exercises. It can help them in lowering diseases which are associated with obese as well as
diseases such as diabetes, blood pressure and so on (Evans, Orihuela & Mrug, 2021). Prevailing of
such disease are co-related to unhealthy dietary habitats. Observational studies shows he standards
of promoting exposure of physical activities can help in the management of obesity (Evenhuis &
et.al., 2020). Studies state that children who are in school organisation can be a most effected
population by this strategy. It can help them to control their diet o that they can also reduce the
chances of prevailing diabetes. Whereas, the population who is least effected through this strategy
can be various culture.
According to studies, the considered approach that has been taken to lower the rates of
obesity is family based (Scale up of a multi-strategic intervention to increase implementation of a
school healthy canteen policy: findings of an intervention trial, 2021). In this children, it is best
approach for promoting children's diet as well as exposure of physical activities is to develop
environment that can facilitate making healthful choices. Healthful choices that should be
determined by parents for their kids, in order to reduce their unhealthy practices. It is role of school
authorities to demonstrate the importance of eating healthy and stopping junk foods consumption

for their kids. As it can be helpful for teachers and also for a kid to control their diet at school
campus.
In 2004, the World Health Organisation (WHO) formulated prevention based Global
Strategy on the diet of individuals, Physical Activities and Health. This approach highly aimed on
reduce the prevalence and associated hazards of obese. (Rollings & Wells, 2018).The directors of
WHO determined commission on Ending Childhood Obesity , along with six areas of priority of
actions determined to achieve global target to stop childhood obesity. The six areas are: Promotion
of intake of healthy foods, promotion of physical activities, Preconception and quality of care, Early
Childhood and physical activities, Health, nutrition and physical activities of school-age children
and weight management of children (Wolfenden, & et.al., 2017). These priority areas majority
focus on the management of BMI ( body mass index) of a person (Scale up of a multi-strategic
intervention to increase implementation of a school healthy canteen policy: findings of an
intervention trial, 2021).
Moreover, an alternative approach that is considered in America, is to promote small
lifestyle changes in order to prevent gradual increase in body weight of children. Alteration of Life
style of children, can include healthy eating diet which should be followed on time such as milk at
morning along with cornflakes, that can help to energies their body, also beneficial to maintain their
body mass index (BMI) (Broccoli, & et. al., 2020). There is further step, which includes frequent
monitoring of body weight of children, if in case kid debits risk factors associated with obesity, the
information is passed to his or her parents. Also, it has been observed that providing change to
schools organisation impacts positively and it can help students to moderate their diet intake.
Furthermore, it has been determined that obesity is a public health issue. Sometimes it is prevailed
due to genes of a person, but in most of times. It prevailed due to lifestyle and dietary choices.
Hence, it can be minimised by using relevant interventions. In South Africa, in order to minimise
obesity, the interventions are being followed to engaging population to physical activities. The
main factors which are promoting obesity in South Africa are urbanisation and westernisation.
Summary of the above paragraphs
Nutrients are considered as basic unit, for the growth and development of children. In which, over
consumption of nutrients and also food choices of children promote a risk factors which is well known as
obesity. Studies figured out, some school authorities offers food services hat promotes exposure of
atmosphere which offers convenient access to junk food. Children observed to prefer indoor games
which also promote less exposure of physical activities. These two factors promotes obesity or
childhood corpulence. In order to minimise these cases, effective strategy developed by Australian
Government which is well known as Traffic signal, in which each colour, has its meaning. It can

help maintain children's balance diet. Whereas another strategy which is considered as exposure of
physical activity of children, this can facilitate to them maintain their good digestion and also
development of their gross motor skills. Obesity of global issue, on international level WHO has
considered strategy as Ending Childhood Obesity and in America, Alteration of Life style of
children, these highly aims on to reduce risk factors of obesity.
Reference List
Broccoli, & et.al., (2020). Development of a conceptual model for interpretation of monitoring indicators of
childhood obesity prevention from the Italian National Prevention Plan. Epidemiologia
Prevenzione. 44(4). 243-253.
Evans, R. R., Orihuela, C., & Mrug, S. (2021). Middle School Stakeholder Perceptions of School Nutrition
Reform Since the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. American Journal of Health Education. 52(5).
276-287.
Evenhuis & et.al., (2020). The effect of supportive implementation of healthier canteen guidelines on
changes in Dutch school canteens and student purchase behaviour. Nutrients. 12(8). 2419.
Rollings, K. A., & Wells, N. M. (2018). Cafeteria assessment for elementary schools (CAFES):
development, reliability testing, and predictive validity analysis. BMC public health. 18(1). 1-16.
Wolfenden, & et.al., (2020). From demonstration project to changes in health systems for child obesity
prevention: the legacy of ‘Good for Kids, Good for Life’.
Balestrin & et.al., (2021). Program for Healthier School Cafeterias in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil: Protocol for
a Community-Based Randomized Trial. JMIR research protocols, 10(1), e22680.
Evans, R. R., Orihuela, C., & Mrug, S. (2021). Middle School Stakeholder Perceptions of School Nutrition
Reform Since the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. American Journal of Health Education, 52(5),
276-287.
Wolfenden, & et.al., (2017). Multi-strategic intervention to enhance implementation of healthy canteen
policy: a randomised controlled trial. Implementation Science, 12(1), 1-11.

Online sources
Australian school canteens: menu guideline adherence or avoidance?, 2021: [Online] Available through:
<https://www.publish.csiro.au/he/Fulltext/he14009>
Scale up of a multi-strategic intervention to increase implementation of a school healthy canteen policy:
findings of an intervention trial, 2021: [Online] Available through:
<https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-018-5786-x>

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