World Obesity Day: PAHO launches Creative Play Initiative in Barbados schools – PAHO/WHO

Bridgetown, Barbados March 4, 2024 (PAHO) – Creative Play, a new initiative from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Barbados, aims to address the growing problem of overweight and obesity in children by developing innovative approaches to encourage physical activity in schools. .

According to data from a school health study in Barbados, 30% of schoolchildren are overweight or obese. Increasingly sedentary lifestyles are a key factor in this. The Creative Play Initiative aims to address this issue by implementing life-sized versions of children’s games, such as Snakes and Ladders, to encourage greater physical activity at school.

“Not all children are interested in competitive sports, but most enjoy playing and having fun,” said Donna Barker, Senior Health Promotion Officer at the Barbados Ministry of Health and Wellness and creator of the Creative Play Initiative. .

“While on social media, I came across several videos showing colorful and challenging obstacle courses drawn in backyards or children’s play areas. I thought this could be introduced into Barbados primary schools as a creative way for children to stay active as that is where they spend most of their day,” she added.

Two schools were chosen to pilot the initiative: St. Albans Elementary School and Charles F. Broome Memorial Elementary School. So far, the Creative Play areas have been well received by both students and teachers and provide schools with a space to reinforce concepts taught in subject areas such as mathematics, social sciences and health through play activities.

With the increased use of mobile phones, tablets and other devices, children are not as physically active as in the past, noted Dr. Amalia Del Riego, PAHO/WHO Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean. “We must think outside the box and be creative to get children more active. This initiative achieves this by infusing physical activity with emotion.”

As the pilot program continues to be successful, PAHO and Barbados plan to expand the initiative to other schools during the next academic year. There are also plans to join forces with other partners to expand the initiative throughout the country.

One in eight people lives with obesity

New data released by the World Health Organization last week shows that, worldwide, one in eight people are now living with obesity. Obesity among adults has more than doubled since 1990 and has quadrupled among children and adolescents ages 5 to 19.

At the 2022 World Health Assembly, Member States adopted the WHO acceleration plan to curb obesitywhich supports action at the national level to address this growing problem.