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Table 3 Summary of the activities carried out in the municipal administrative sectors according to their main targets

From: A qualitative study on multisector activities to prevent childhood obesity in the municipality of Seinäjoki, Finland

Administrative sector

Main targets of the actions

Promotion of physical activity

Promotion of healthy eating

Obesity prevention

Promotion of health and/or well-being

Management

• Investments in PA-promoting environments

 

• Included in the city strategy

• The city obesity program

• Included in the city strategy

• Systematic and scientifically informed multisector work led by the Director of Health Promotion and supported by the mayor and the multisector health promotion management group

• Strong commitment of the sectors, collaboration with NGOs and those working with families

• Matching of the activity with the national level guidelines and the Health in All Policies approach

• Auditing of the process of health promotion

Primary health care

 

• Oral health care professionals giving dietary advice

▪ Systematic monitoring of the children’s weight and height and yearly reports of the entire child population

▪ A specific tool to help children at the risk of obesity

• Systematic procedure to support the early start of healthy lifestyles in maternal and child health clinics and in schools

• Systematic monitoring of the children’s development

• Support and guidance for health and psychosocial problems

Early child education and care

• The construction and renovation of premises to promote PA

• Participation in a national PA program and other activities to help making PA a natural part of daily life

• Dissemination of the awareness of the PA recommendations and involvement of the parents in children’s PA

• Nutritionally balanced and heart-healthy meals

• Teaching children to learn new tastes and HE

• Dessert-free early childhood education and care

• Development of the meals in collaboration with the catering services

 

• The promotion of children’s development, overall well-being, and learning opportunities

Schools

• The construction and renovation of premises to promote PA

• Participation in a national program to help making PA a natural part of daily life

• Pupils and teachers as PA instructors and innovators

• School day restructuring to give space for PA and PA added in the curriculum in some classes

• PA events

• Nutritionally balanced and heart-healthy meals

• Encouragement in exploring new tastes

• The ban on energy drinks

• Development of the meals in collaboration with the catering services

 

• School day structuring to give space for activities which promote well-being

• Sensitivity in detecting pupils’ problems and early intervention to address them

• Showing ways to add to well-being by combining PA with cultural experiences

Sports services

• Construction of low-threshold, easily accessible, and freely available PA areas and facilities

• Hiring of instructors and organizing PA groups and events

• Teaching PA skills to both children and parents

• Provision of information on PA opportunities and listening to the citizens’ wishes

• Targeted PA opportunities for children with special needs

  

• Provision of information on healthy lifestyles

Technical services

• Collaborative work done with several administrative sectors and NGOs to construct multipurpose and easily accessible areas for PA

• The restructuration of the city center to promote PA and the construction of routes for light traffic

  

• The restructuring of the city center to promote well-being

Mass catering services

 

• Nutritionally balanced and heart-healthy meals

• Meals as a means for the overall promotion of HE

• Participation in the meal committees and collection of feedback

• Participation in the dessert-free early childhood education and care

• Training of the staff