10/05/2017

A study reminds us that learning about nutrition has a direct impact on increasing healthy habits, both in terms of food and drinks

A report entitled “Impacto de la formación nutricional sobre decisiones alimentarias” [The impact of learning about nutrition on food decisions] in which more than 3.200 secondary schools from 104 schools in Barcelona participated provides data on how their eating decisions were modified at breakfast time: this occurred after they had been given a workshop on healthy eating habits. 

Specifically, first year compulsory secondary education pupils (ESO) in Barcelona who were given a workshop in nutrition chose healthier food and drinks for their breakfast compared to the initial choices they made, before the workshop.

The impact was higher in terms of a reduction in non-healthy food (7,1%) as compared to unhealthy drinks (4,4%). Before doing the workshop, 75% of the schoolchildren chose unhealthy sugary drinks, that contain high numbers of calories.

As Dr Toni Mora, Vice-Rector for Research, Innovation and Knowledge Transfer at UIC Barcelona and director of the study pointed out, “based on this experiment undertaken in secondary schools in Barcelona we have demonstrated that nutritional education has an indirect impact on improved healthy habits”.

The study was presented in January 2016 within the framework of the presentation of the new Eurest Chair in Public Finance: Healthcare and Education Policy Assessment, also directed by Dr Mora.

On 1 May the tax on sugary cans of drinks (IBEE) came into force, which was approved by the Catalan Parliament in a session on 22 March, and forms part of Law 5/2017, of 28 March.

Download the full report here.