A healthy generation

A Healthy Generation was established in 2011 as a non-profit, politically and religiously unaffiliated foundation, with the aim to increase physical activity and encourage a healthy lifestyle among families with children aged 8–12 years. A Healthy Generation works in close collaboration with municipalities, local enterprises and sport associations to ensure long-term implementation of the programme. At the municipality level, a three-year contract/agreement is established between the foundation and the municipalities, and at least one health coordinator is employed at the municipality to operate the implementation of a programme developed by the foundation. The programme is implemented in schools in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas, selected by local municipalities. Children in grade 2 (8–9 years) and their families, including siblings, are invited to participate in A Healthy Generation. The programme A Healthy Generation runs over one school year, from August/September to May. It includes four intervention components, described below: 1) activity sessions offered twice a week; 2) healthy meals, either a fruit or a hot meal; 3) health information; and 4) parental support groups.

A central aspect of the programme A Healthy Generation is to create opportunities for families to be physically active together as a mean to inspire further activity and create new physical activity habits. During the intervention, a total of 65 activity sessions consisting of 25–30 different types of activities were offered. Each activity lasted approximately 1 h. Examples of activities were basketball, football, dance and martial arts. The activities took place in the school’s sports hall or in other locations close to the school and were led by a health coordinator from the foundation A Healthy Generation together with leaders from local sports clubs (www.enfriskgeneration.se).

Each activity session was followed by a healthy meal or fruit each week for the participating families. On weekdays, a hot meal was served in the school facilities, and on weekends fruits were offered. Health coordinators initiated informal discussions about healthy living habits during both activity sessions and at the shared meals.

Parental support groups with external coaches were offered four times to parents, while the children participated as usual in an activity session with the health coordinators. The involvement of parents in all activities is intended to strengthen parents’ role modelling and promote a positive family environment among participating families and in relation to the local community.