School-Based Obesity Control (Rashaqa)

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Introduction:

It is an initiative implemented, in collaboration between the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Ministry of Education (MOE), for different educational stages at some selected schools.

Themes:

Raising awareness, creating database, providing a supportive environment, activating laws and regulations related to balanced food and physical activity, and controlling obesity in school-aged children.

Objective:

Reduce the prevalence of obesity among school-aged children and adolescents in some selected schools at a rate of 5% by the end of 2020.

Detailed objectives:

Improve the nutritional behavior among students.
Increase the physical activity among students.
Provide the preventive and therapeutic services to overweight and obese students.

Target groups:

Students in all educational stages (Primary – Intermediate – Secondary) at some selected schools across the Kingdom’s regions.

Number of schools:

First phase (2017): 1000 schools ( in six regions of the Kingdom).
Second phase (2018): 2400 schools ( in 20 regions of the Kingdom).
Third phase (2019): 4000 schools ( in 20 regions of the Kingdom).

Fourth phase (2020): 6000 schools ( in 20 regions of the Kingdom).

Duration:

Each stage is applied throughout the entire academic year.

Third phase targets (2019):

Training target:

Number	Target Group
1972 trainees	Health cadres
4000 trainees	School health workers

Application target:

Number	Target Group
4000 schools	Schools
1,102,779 students	Students targeted for awareness
1,102,779 students	Students targeted for examination

Third phase achievements (4000 schools in 20 regions):

987 primary healthcare centers have been linked with 4000 schools.
1824 health cadres and 3,705 educational staff have been trained.
Lectures, seminars, and awareness-raising activities on obesity control have been conducted at the participating healthcare centers and schools; targeting 1,078,530 students.
1,073,270 students have been examined.
4,014 target school canteens have been evaluated.