Nicole Wolfram

Nutrition sciences as part of school education on secondary level

Background : The following article focuses on nutrition related topics that had been implemented in the curricula of secondary level schools in Saxony, Germany, during their reorganisation. The overall aim was to make children and adolescents more sensitive to nutrition related topics in their daily lives. Thus, the lesson plans that have been created for the teachers will be introduced and a preview of further steps will be given. Methods : For the subject economics-technology-household exemplary lesson plans within the framework of the Saxon curricula were created for secondary level schools from grades eight to ten. Furthermore, conceptions for project days and different kinds of courses were prepared for nutrition related topics. After the lesson plans were tested and three teachers were consulted, feedback from all of the subject teachers was obtained via interview for qualitative analysis. Fifty-two pupils were asked to answer a questionnaire. The responses according to the lessons were taken partially standardised and were evaluated. Results : Teachers as well as pupils appreciated the complex lesson plans and materials on scientific basis.The consulted subject teachers emphasised that the lesson plans can be regarded as a fundamental preparation for their further work. If necessary they need to be adapted to the teacher’s ideas and special circumstances in school. Conclusions : With the preparation of the lesson plans important steps were realised within the restructuring process of Saxon curricula. Thus, the implementation of nutrition related topics in school curricula could be achieved.

Physical activity and nutrition-health information activities of the EU, WHO, European networks and national examples

ObjectiveMany Health Information Activities related to nutrition and physical activity have been initiated during the past years by several institutions on the national and international level as well as by several European networks. A multitude of projects with different scopes and methodologies has arisen. This variety makes it necessary to bring the results of these activities into a coordinated framework. The report aims to give a structured overview on the availability of routine repeated or repeatable data on the health determinants nutrition and physical activity in European countries. An Inventory of Health Information Activities on physical activity and nutrition was built up, which summarises activities carried out by the European Commission, the WHO, various European Networks, as well as national examples. The Health Information Activities collected as national examples assess data for all countries belonging to the European Union up to 2006, the European Economic Area (EEA) and all Candidate countries. The Inventory considers activities which started in 1990 or later, which were still running or have been approved but not yet started.MethodThe report analyses institutional structures (WHO, European Commission, European Networks) as well as examples of health information activities at the national level. A network of European public health professionals identified available national health information activities and survey data, which were summarised in a structured online database.ResultsThe results section presents activities in the field of health information on physical activity and nutrition of the European Commission (DG Sanco), the World Health Organisation (Europe) and various European networks. Furthermore, this section presents the analysis of the database which summarises health information activities in European countries. The database is freely accessible at the website of the Working Party. Additionally, the supplement provides a summary of Health Information Activities for each country in Country Profile Sheets.ConclusionThe report provides a general overview on Health Information Activities related to physical activity and nutrition as well as a state-of-the-art investigation about available data in European countries. The concluding section of the report aims to recommend future Health Information actions which outline open issues.

Lebenskompetenzförderung im Kindergartenalter

Hintergrund: Lebenskompetenz ist als ein uberaus komplexes Zusammenspiel unterschiedlichster personaler und sozialer Einflussfaktoren zu sehen. Bislang wurden in Lebenskompetenzforderungsprogrammen oft mals einzelne Aspekte mit Praxisbezug herausgezogen und fur diese spezifische Ansatze entwickelt. Ziel: Ziel des vorliegenden Beitrages ist es, dem Leser einen Einblick in einen Vorschlag zur praktischen Umsetzung der Lebenskompetenzforderung im Alltag der Kindertageseinrichtung zu geben und abschlie\end die Forderung der Lebenskompetenz in den Gesamtzusammenhang „Pravention“ zu stellen. Kernpunkte: Auf den Grundfesten, wie die Person selbst und ihren sozialen Bezugspersonen in Elternhaus und Kindertageseinrichtung sowie ihren Vorbildern, bauen die Fertigkeiten auf, welche einen kompetent handelnden Menschen auszeichnen. Auf diese Voraussetzungen stutzen sich ein stabiles Selbstvertrauen und ein positives Selbstbild, die wiederum ein positives Bild von der eigenen Zukunft bewirken. Schlussfolgerungen: Das vorliegende Konzept geht uber bisherige Ansatze zur Forderung der Lebenskompetenz in der Kindertageseinrichtung insofern hinaus, als dass es sich den Grundsatzlichkeiten nahert, welche die unbedingte Voraussetzung fur z. B. Pravention von Substanzmissbrauch, Gewalt aber auch Angst sind. Damit wird ein Konzept vorgelegt, welches einem ganzheitlichen Ansatz folgt und die Pravention samtlicher lebensstil- und einstellungsbezogenen Fehlentwicklungen ermoglicht.

Comparability of health information activities—a co-ordinated framework for health information activities on nutrition and physical activity in the EU, EEA and candidate countries

BackgroundMany health information activities related to nutrition and physical activity have been initiated in recent years by several institutions at the national and international level as well as by European networks. A multitude of projects with different scopes and methodologies has arisen. This variety makes it necessary to bring the results of these activities into a co-ordinated framework.AimThe report “Nutrition and physical activity—health information sources in EU Member States, and activities in the Commission, WHO, and European networks” aims to give a structured overview of the availability of routinely repeated or repeatable data on the health determinants nutrition and physical activity in European countries.ResultsThe report provides a structured overview of health information activities related to nutrition and physical activity as well as a state-of-the-art investigation about available data in European countries.ConclusionIt was the intention of the report to give an overview of existing health information activities related to nutrition and physical activity covering actions in all countries belonging to the European Union up to 2006, the European Economic Area and all candidate countries and including all age groups. A multitude of health information activities related to nutrition and physical activity were considered. Common data reporting guidelines and standardised methods, which encompass public and private sector health information activities, should be developed. Regular revision and adaptation concerning developed strategies, policies and practices as needed for health and population dimensions have to be realised. In order to provide for concerted action in health policy at the European level, quality, relevant and timely data are needed.

Public Health Nutrition

Abraham Maslow (1908 – 1970) has set up a hierarchy of five levels of basic needs. Of those that are considered to be basic physiological needs hunger, thirst as well as bodily comforts are considered to be the most important. Physiological needs are the strongest needs because if a person were deprived on all needs it is these physiological needs that would take the highest priority. As food is characterized as a basic need, we should have a special view on our daily food and our handling of it. Most people do not act careful with their daily intake of food. In the last decades, the increases of nutrition-associated diseases such as overweight and obesity and on the other hand underweight have been recorded. From a life-span approach, the problem has its offset point in the early age of development, namely in children and adolescents. Malnutrition, overweight and obesity limit children’s personal quality of life in terms of unhappiness with their own body, opposition or even rejection in peer group communication and general difficulties in day-to-day social interaction. A close connection between physical stature and the development of a negative self-concept and a low self-esteem is postulated.