Dear FSN Forum,
Lebanon has experienced a nutrition transition resulting in a shift towards a diet high in energy-dense food and sedentary lifestyle. In fact, childhood obesity doubled during the past decade and school-based programmes promoting healthy lifestyles were lacking. In view of that, a scientifically-based program has been developed by the American University of Beirut, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, under the name –Kanz al Sohat–.
To address the growing problem of obesity in Lebanon, Nestlé joined forces with the American University of Beirut to jointly roll out the programme under the name –Nestlé Healthy Kids - Ajyal Salima– in 2010 to schoolchildren aged 9 to 11, with the support of the Lebanese Ministry of Education.
The educational curriculum of the programme is founded on the social cognitive theory to promote behaviour change, and is implemented through interactive learning and hands-on activities on nutrition, healthy eating and physical activity; it aims to promote nutritional knowledge; better eating habits and an active lifestyle among schoolchildren.
It looks to impact on teachers, school shops, parents and families to boost healthy lifestyles for youngsters (Education and Health article attached)
As a result of the programme’s national roll out on the knowledge and eating behaviours in children, the Lebanese Ministry of Education officially adopted the Nestlé Healthy Kids-Ajyal Salima programme into its Health Education Unit’s curriculum in public schools in 2014.
Study results showed that knowledge and self-efficacy increased in students who received the intervention. Moreover, findings highlighted reductions in children’s probability of consuming chips and sweetened beverages, and an increase in fruits and vegetables consumption. (BMC article attached)
Ownership of the program by the various stakeholders is one of the most key lessons learnt, so engaging the relevant ministries, schools administrators, school-based vendors, parents and of course students is essential for streamlining the implementation of any program and ensuring its success. (Frontiers article attached)
A further publication is in progress to compare the effectiveness of this intervention implemented across three consecutive years, delivered by different teams; in addition to an on-going cohort study that has been launched by the American University of Beirut in 2014 to assess the programme’s impact on the long term.
To date, the Nestlé Healthy Kids-Ajyal Salima programme has reached about 27500 children and 210 schools in Lebanon.
More than 500 teachers and health coordinators have been trained nationwide as part of the initiative.
In Lebanon, the programme is making an impact across the country through the Health Education Unit framework of the Lebanese Ministry of Education.
It has been replicated in Dubai in 2012, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2014 and in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in 2015 in collaboration with local health and educational entities.
Best regards,
Healthy Kids-AJyal Salima team
American University of Beirut
Dr. Carla Habib-Mourad