Implementation of Israeli Nationwide School Programs for Promoting an Active and Healthy Lifestyle

Aim and Methods: The aims of the present study were to describe the various programs for nurturing an active and healthy life-style implemented during 2011-2012 in schools in Israel, and to identify variables that may explain the success versus lack of success in implementing these programs. Participants were a nation-wide representing sample of 126 school principals from seven supervisory districts of the Ministry of Education, including six sectors, from the elementary, junior-high and senior-high school levels.

Semi-structured telephone interviews were recorded and processed using the ATLAS.ti software for qualitative analysis. Physical education teachers, science teachers and social coordinators led implementation of the program. The program included four main activity domains: health, physical education, nutrition and sustainability.

Results: Three types of program implementation were observed: leading principles, teaching methods and external programs. Parents were mostly involved in elementary schools. Evidence of program integration into school life was presented by changes in children`s behaviors, whereas difficulties stemmed from lack of budget and teaching hours. Science and physical education lessons constituted the anchor for the programs.

Conclusion: A school needs a committed leader who can help conduct and maintain a program of this kind. Thus, the role of the school principal is to initiate programs, to encourage their implementation and mainly to reinforce the teachers` enthusiasm.