Concern over increased childhood obesity has spurred various school-based interventions. However, these interventions often have little positive effect and may inadvertently contribute to unhealthy behaviours during weight loss attempts. Indeed, a general emphasis on appearance and weight (rather than health) can promote eating disordered behaviours. This book provides a conceptual model for understanding both obesity and eating disordered behaviours. Specifically, it advocates for body acceptance and intuitive eating -- a flexible, healthy eating behaviour involving awareness of the body's hunger and satiety cues. Within this context, the chapters review evidence-based school interventions in nutrition, self-regulation, exercise, body acceptance, media literacy, and mindfulness. Guidance is also provided for identifying, referring, and supporting students with emerging eating disorders. Without empirically supported guidance, schools run the risk of implementing ineffective or harmful programming in an effort to do good. Thus, this book is a much needed resource for teachers, administrators, counsellors, nurses, and other school personnel.

In order to reduce the impact of major risk factors such as unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, the World Health Assembly adopted the Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health (DPAS) in May 2004 and the School Policy Framework on Diet and Physical Activity. DPAS is a call to Member States to develop and implement policies and programs that promote healthy diets and increase levels of physical activity. Subsequently, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean developed a Regional Framework on Diet and Physical Activity for national policy-makers. The regional framework suggests several approaches to addressing issues of unhealthy diet and physical inactivity including in schools. This guide was reviewed by health-promoting school focal points from 16 countries in the Region and it includes their recommendations. It is a work in progress and is not intended to be prescriptive. Countries are encouraged to adapt the proposed interventions according to their own priority needs and social and cultural contexts and make use of mechanisms and tools already existing in country.

This book critically assesses the role of agrobiodiversity in school gardens and its contribution to diversifying diets, promoting healthy eating habits and improving nutrition among schoolchildren as well as other benefits relating to climate change adaptation, ecoliteracy and greening school spaces. Many schoolchildren suffer from various forms of malnutrition and it is important to address their nutritional status given the effects it has on their health, cognition, and subsequently their educational achievement. Schools are recognized as excellent platforms for promoting lifelong healthy eating and improving long-term, sustainable nutrition security required for optimum educational outcomes. This book reveals the multiple benefits of school gardens for improving nutrition and education for children and their families. It examines issues such as school feeding, community food production, school gardening, nutritional education and the promotion of agrobiodiversity, and draws on international case studies, from both developed and developing nations, to provide a comprehensive global assessment. This book will be essential reading for those interested in promoting agrobiodiversity, sustainable nutrition and healthy eating habits in schools and public institutions more generally. It identifies recurring and emerging issues, establishes best practices, identifies key criteria for success and advises on strategies for scaling up and scaling out elements to improve the uptake of school gardens.

Nutrition education may be defined as a combination of educational tactics accompanied by physical or environmental supports, the purpose of which is to encourage voluntary adoption of foods and other lifestyle behaviors that are beneficial to health. This book highlights the importance of nutrition education as an integral part of day-to-day life. The first part takes an in-depth look at what nutrition education is and how it can be used to influence various target populations. The second part explores the complexities of eating behavior, underscoring the importance of early childhood as a critical time for intervention. The final part focuses on nutrition education in medical schools, highlighting the latest educational technologies being used in curricula, as well as methods for bringing nutrition to the clinic. The insights presented in this book cover the basis of how nutrition interventions can be designed and delivered to improve food choices and, ultimately, an individual's health. The publication will be of great interest for educators, pediatricians, dietitians, public health, professionals, and policy makers.

School lunches should be free for all students. Some people might strongly agree with this statement, while others might strongly disagree. In order to engage in a debate about this topic that affects readers’ everyday lives, readers first need to understand both sides. They are able to do this with the help of balanced main text, fact boxes, and graphic organizers. Different points of view are clearly presented to readers, who are encouraged to think critically about an issue that would impact them and their families. This valuable reading experience is enhanced through the use of colorful photographs.