In China, many children have an inadequate food intake, resulting in micronutrient deficiencies (Ca, Fe, etc.); obesity rates are increasing; and many school children do not eat breakfast, which impedes their school performance as they suffer from so-called short-term hunger. To assist schools in the Zhejiang province, located in the southeast of China, address prevalent nutrition problems, a team of WHO/FAO/EDC experts collaborated with officials from the ministries of health and education and representatives from six intervention and control schools to plan and implement a pilot project. As part of a one-week seminar in April 2000, a work plan was discussed and revised jointly with the Chinese colleagues. The overall goals of the project are to contribute to the improvement of the nutrition and health status of students in the pilot schools through health and nutrition interventions; and to develop a model project for nutrition interventions as an entry point for the development of health-promoting schools which can be replicated by other schools in China. A mid-term evaluation will be held in March 2001, and final evaluation is scheduled for August/September 2001. Evaluation results will be available and discussed in this session.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to: 1. Describe issues that affect children’s nutrition in Zhejiang province, China 2. Discuss interventions and results of a school nutrition project in Zhejiang province, China
Keywords: Nutrition, International
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: World Health Organization (WHO)
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC)
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.