Weight
After two years, the BMI of children at Nutrition-and-Exercise Schools and Exercise Schools had decreased slightly, while at the Control Schools it had increased slightly.
Bullying
Teachers indicate that there are significantly fewer conflicts at the Healthy Schools of the Future. At the Nutrition-and-Exercise Schools, they observed that children’s social behaviour (respect, playing together) had improved.
Exercise
When it comes to exercise, it makes a difference whether the school is an Exercise School or a Nutrition-and-Exercise School. There is no difference in the amount of time children spend sitting between a Control School and an Exercise School. The same applies to the amount of time children spend doing light or vigorous physical activity. At Nutrition-and-Exercise Schools, on the other hand, children sit less and spend more time doing light physical activity.
Nutrition
At the Nutrition-and-Exercise Schools, children’s intake of dairy products, vegetables and fruit during lunch increased compared with the Control Schools. Children also drink more water. Unhealthy eating behaviour has decreased.
What next?
The four-year programme ends after this school year. According to Maartje Willeboordse, a postdoctoral researcher at Maastricht University, efforts are under way to find funding to continue the initiative at the schools. Various forms of funding are being considered, ranging from parental contributions to government funding and from health insurers to the business community.
The initiators would like to see the initiative expanded both in duration and in scope. This means not only more schools—the current ambition is 40—but also involving childcare and secondary education in this approach. It should also become more widely known outside (South) Limburg. To achieve this, they currently plan to hold three roadshows throughout the Netherlands this year.