Lifelong Learning Programme

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.
This web site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Sporting events are organised in each partner country

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School Directors

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Their support is a key element to promote sport at school

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How to promote the importance of sport at school

A Toolkit for School Director

2. Address physical activity and nutrition
Adequate nutrition and physical activity are cornerstones of good health and need to be included in comprehensive school health programmes to complement each other. Nutrition provides fuel for physical activity. The World Health Organization has developed the Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health which calls attention to the importance of a balance between nutrition and physical activity. Nutrition and physical activity are linked in several ways. The prevalence of overweight among children and adolescents has increased dramatically in some developing and most developed countries around the world. The primary cause of overweight and obesity is an imbalance between caloric intake from food and energy expenditure from physical activity. Thus, physical activity does not in itself guarantee good health. In fostering healthy physical activity, schools should also:
• enable and assist students to choose and consume healthy, nutritious foods;
• allow adequate time for eating as well as for recess;
• discourage students from eating junk foods
• not use food as a reward or as a punishment.

Poor diet and sedentary behaviours are among the major risk factors of chronic diseases which account for 59% of 56.5 million deaths annually and 46% of the global disease burden. Recognising this major public health problem, WHO has formulated a Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health to mobilise international, national and local action that encourages and helps people maintain a healthy diet and physically active lifestyles. There is clear and convincing evidence that high consumption of energy – sugar, starch and fat – in relation to physical inactivity is the fundamental determining factor of nutrition-related chronic diseases. Healthy diet and physical activity are key to good nutrition and necessary for a long and healthy life. Eating nutrient dense foods and balancing energy intake with the necessary physical activity to maintain health is essential at all stages of life. Consuming too much food high in energy and low in essential nutrients contributes to energy excess, overweight and obesity. The simple, but extremely important, recommendations of the global initiative are to eat less high caloric foods; especially foods in high saturated or trans fat and sugar; consume foods with unsaturated fat; use less salt; consume high amounts of fruits, vegetables and legumes; select foods of plant and marine origin; and be physically active for at least 30 minutes a day
Learning Objective
The learning objective of this step is to provide knowledge on how nutrition correlates with physical activity and how the promotion of adequate nutrition and physical activity can turn in cornerstones of good health policy the school can have.
Online Resources
  • WHO information series on school healthThis document is part of the WHO Information Series on School Health prepared for WHO’s Global School Health Initiative and the Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health. Its purpose is to strengthen efforts to educate young people about the benefits of physical activity and to help schools provide opportunities for students and school personnel to be physically active.
  • Dietary guidelinesThe Dietary Guidelines is source for nutrition advice. These recommendations can help people make healthy food and beverage choices and serve as the foundation for vital nutrition policies and programs.
  • School health guidelinesThe page provides access to synthesized research and best practices related to promoting healthy eating and physical activity in schools, culminating in nine guidelines.
  • Physical Activity and Nutrition for HealthThis book will help you promote fitness and nutrition among students and staff, and its nutrition services tools will help you garner support from parents and community members to enhance student success.

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This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This web site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.