Research taking place in Ontario schools is poised to help children around the world lead healthier lives.
Brock University is heading up the research portion of a multi-institutional project, "Growing Healthy Places: Mississauga," that is part of the Cities for Better Health program, an international effort to boost children's health and well-being.
Canada Research Chair in Child Health Equity and Inclusion and Associate Professor of Health Sciences Karen Patte and her team will be evaluating nutrition and physical activity programs at select Mississauga schools. Those programs are co-ordinated by community agencies Ophea and 8 80 Cities.
Schools located in socioeconomically vulnerable neighbourhoods will be designated to either receive intervention programs or to act as a comparison group.
The intervention programs will be co-designed, implemented and evaluated by a range of partners, including school and community groups, municipal governments and academic institutions.
Elementary and middle school students in both school groups will fill out three annual surveys measuring their health and well-being, with researchers comparing the results over three years.
"Central to the evaluation is a focus on whether the interventions impact inequitable distribution of health outcomes over time," Patte says.
Studies have shown food insecurity among children and youth has increased in Canada. In 2022, 18 per cent of Canadian families reported experiencing food insecurity in the past 12 months, with families living in urban areas and from racialized and immigrant populations disproportionately affected.
Further, only half of children aged five to 11 years old meet the recommended physical activity levels.
These challenges in childhood can impact long-term health outcomes and quality of life, says Patte.
"We want to make sure all children have access to nutritious food and safe opportunities to be active."
Promoting healthy diets and physical activity in childhood is critical to support healthy growth and development, and to reduce the risk of developing a range of health issues in adulthood, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer and depression.
Patte says the project's goal is to set the stage for children's health and wellness in the long run.
"The evidence gained, and the project's focus on sustainability and scale up, will support the promotion of healthy communities well beyond the study, helping to ensure all children have the opportunity to thrive," she says.
Patte says she was attracted to this project by the "community-driven, equity-focused and intersectoral partnership approach to promoting children's health."
"I really value the approach of Ophea and 8 80 Cities in which they prioritize building trust and ensure any interventions are locally developed to meet communities where they are," she says. "Core to their programs is a focus on enhancing belonging and building inclusive spaces."
