Abu Dhabi: A campaign to encourage healthy lifestyles among schoolchildren in the emirate of Abu Dhabi has seen an increase in the number of participating schools that conduct physical education classes, senior health officials announced in the capital today (Wednesday).

In addition, 80 per cent of the schools now have a physical activity policy and 78.6 per cent of schools have a nutritional policy, compared to just 46.7 per cent and 35.7 per cent respectively before the campaign started, officials from the Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD) added.

“At the start of the campaign, titled ‘Eat Right Get Active’, only 33 per cent of the 60 schools that joined the initiative were organising three physical education classes per week for each grade. This proportion has now increased to 60 per cent of the schools,” said Dr Arwa Al Modwahi, senior officer for maternal and child health at the HAAD.

“The most significant change has come about in schoolchildren’s outlook on healthy living. Even when unhealthy fast food is available to children, fewer of them opt for it. This means that the educational aspects of the campaign have been effective in reaching out to young minds,” she told Gulf News.

Dr Arwa was speaking at a press conference that discussed the results of the campaign, which was first launched by the HAAD in 2011, in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Education Council (Adec) and Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA).

According to details revealed, studies conducted in 2005 and 2010 as part of the World Health Organisation’s Global School Health Surveys found worrying trends in eating and exercise patterns among UAE schoolchildren. For example, only about 27 per cent of pupils undertook an hour of physical activity on at least five days a week. Moreover, less than half the children ate at least one piece of fruit a day, while only 56 per cent ate one vegetable serving or more daily.

On the other hand, 42 per cent of children were found to be consuming carbonated drinks one or more times every day.

“All schools in the emirate were therefore invited in 2011 to implement healthy living guidelines among their pupils, with the aim of reducing the percentage of people affected by lifestyle diseases,” Dr Arwa said.

Pupils in participating schools filled out questionnaires about what they ate and how often they exercised. These were then shared with the HAAD, the Adec and ADFCA. Meanwhile, a food dome that outlined nutritional needs for different age groups was also adopted and children were taught to use it when making meal choices.

“Today, all participating schools implement an evidence-based curriculum to increase pupils’ levels of physical activity. About 46 per cent of them also offer comprehensive sports after regular hours,” Dr Arwa explained.

The schools also fully adhere to the relevant canteen guidelines, and the majority of them also conduct monthly sessions to educate pupils on healthy eating.

Asked why the availability of healthy food in schools canteens had only increased from 64 per cent to 71 per cent in the 60 participating schools, Dr Asma Al Mannaei, manager of community health and surveillance at the HAAD, said that canteen service providers are still being educated about healthy food policies.

Dr Arwa also said that there is great interest from other schools to join the initiative, but the exact number of institutions that will join Eat Right Get Active in the next academic year was not revealed.

“Most pupils now educate their parents about what nutrients and foods are good for them. Nevertheless, we still need greater parental support, and want to further interest in leading active lifestyles,” she added.

HAAD officials also recommended that pupils be allowed to lead campaign activities, and that health education be made part of the school curriculum.