Health Topics
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Healthy Living
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November 2009
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| Apollo School Wellness Programme |
| A New Hope, A New Sky |
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"Inever knew what childhood obesity is," says 10-year-old Simran, who studies in AMS P. Obul Reddy School, Hyderabad. No wonder: many people like you and me also don't. But yes, those schools with the Apollo Life Wellness Programmes since years, do know this. |
| Apollo Life Wellness Health Programmes are a mix of on-campus wellness as well as after-school wellness programmess, which have witnessed an amazing response and cooperation from parents and school authorities. "This programme is excellent, as it seems to inculcate good habits and practices while ensuring the overall development of the child," notes Capt. Rohit Sen Bajaj, Principal, Oakridge International School, Hyderabad. "It brings about the student's awareness on body fitness, nutritional diet and looking good - which are very important in kids. It also makes the parent aware on good parenting and ensures a strong emotional quotient for their child," he adds. |
The Apollo School Wellness Programme
The Apollo School Wellness Health Programme measures height and weight, assesses dietary intake, and collects information on physical and sedentary activities of the school children. It compares excess body weight, diet, and physical activity across schools with and without nutrition programmess, using multilevel regression methods (while adjusting for gender and socioeconomic characteristics of parents and residential neighbourhoods).
Students from different schools have participated in these coordinated programmes in collaboration with Dabur, who incorporated recommendations for school-based healthy eating initiatives. These present significantly lower rates of overweight and obesity, have healthier diets, and report more physical activities than students from schools without nutrition programmess. No wonder that people like Aparesh Bisoee, Chief- School and Corporate Health Programme, Apollo Life is pleased with the results of the programme. "Each child is beginning to show subtle improvements, and in some cases, entire families are involved and are reaping the rewards of the programme!" he points out.
Dr. Govind Singh, City Manager, School Wellness Initiative recommends that such programmes should be implemented in more schools, because their usefulness to building up children's health has been already proven. "These will not just reduce childhood obesity, but in the longer term, control unhealthy conditions and health care spending," he says, with an air of assuredness around him. |
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