The Effects of the Jump-In Whole-School Intervention on the Weight Development of Children in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Vincent Busch; Ilona Steenkamer; Femke van Nassau; Paul van Opdorp; Lieke van Houtum; Arnoud Verhoeff; Jos Twisk

doi:10.1111/josh.13363

The Effects of the Jump-In Whole-School Intervention on the Weight Development of Children in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

J Sch Health. 2024 Jan;94(1):37-46. doi: 10.1111/josh.13363. Epub 2023 Jul 30.

Authors

Vincent Busch¹, Ilona Steenkamer², Femke van Nassau³, Paul van Opdorp⁴, Lieke van Houtum¹, Arnoud Verhoeff^{5

6}, Jos Twisk⁷

Affiliations

¹ Sarphati Amsterdam, Department of Healthy Living, Public Health Service (GGD) Amsterdam, City of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 100, 1018 WT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
² Department of Healthy Living, Public Health Service (GGD), Nieuwe Achtergracht 100, 1018 WT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
³ Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Vrije Universiteit, De Boelelaan 1089a, 1081 HV Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
⁴ Department of Healthy Living, Public Health Service (GGD) Amsterdam, City of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 100, 1018 WT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
⁵ Department of Sociology, University of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 166, 1018WV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Director, Sarphati Amsterdam, Department of Healthy Living, Public Health Service (GGD) Amsterdam, City of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Achtergracht 100, 1018WT, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
⁶ Department of Sociology, University of Amsterdam. Nieuwe Achtergracht 166, 1018 WV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
⁷ Department of Epidemiology and Data Science, Amsterdam UMC, De Boelelaan 1089a, 1081 HV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

PMID: 37518834
DOI: 10.1111/josh.13363

Abstract

Background: This study assessed the effects of the "Jump-in" whole-school intervention in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on children's weight development by comparing children exposed to the intervention and controls from 3 other large Dutch cities. Jump-in is a comprehensive intervention that aims to stimulate healthy nutrition and physical activity in children at primary schools in Amsterdam. In addition, the relationship between the intervention's implementation degree and its effectiveness was studied.

Methods: Demographic and anthropometric data, collected by youth health care professionals via routine health checks at T0 (2014) and T1 (2019), were used to analyze possible intervention effects by comparing the weight development of children exposed to the Jump-in intervention versus unexposed controls. Implementation logs from health promotion professionals were used to determine intervention effects per implementation degree. Multilevel regression analyses were used for all analyses.

Results: In total, 4299 children were included mean age ± 5.5 years (T0), 10.6 years (T1), and ≈50% boys/girls at both times. Receiving the fully implemented intervention resulted in a decline in standardized body-mass index (zBMI) compared to the controls (-0.23, confidence interval [CI] -0.33, -0.13). It also led to higher odds to move into a healthier weight category over time (odds ratio [OR] 1.36, CI 1.06, 1.74), yet no statistically significant shift towards a healthy weight was found.

Conclusions: Relative to the controls, children exposed to the intervention showed positive zBMI developments, with stronger effects when the implementation degree was higher. Despite positive results, creating more impact might require the further integration of school-based programs into whole-systems approaches that include other energy-balance behaviors.

Keywords: health-promoting school; implementation; obesity; overweight; prevention; school-based intervention.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Body Mass Index
Child
Exercise*
Female
Health Promotion / methods
Humans
Male
Netherlands
Schools*