“Community projects” in Modena (Italy): promote regular physical activity and healthy nutrition habits since childhood

Abstract

Lack of exercise and unhealthy diets are two of the most important risk factors to develop overweight, obesity and other chronic diseases. The school plays a key role in the promotion of lifelong healthy habits in children and their families. Every intervention at school level will need to be matched by changes in the social and cultural context so that the benefits can be sustained and enhanced in the community. We promoted healthy nutrition and a regular physical activity in schools and in local communities, through multifaceted interventions, which involved more than 10,000 children and about 100,000 adults.

Key words::

• Childhood
• obesity
• healthy nutrition
• eating behaviours
• physical activity
• community intervention

Acknowledgements

We thank the children and their parents, the teachers, and all the field-operators who participated in the projects. Local Health Units supported the present work.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.