engleski

Croatian National Health Promotion Program– Living Healthy

Issue/Problem Non communicable diseases (NCD) are leading cause of morbidity and premature death in Croatia. Main risk factors are irregular eating habits, inappropriate physical activity and high blood pressure. 35% of females and 48% males in adult population have excessive body weight, and 15% of females and 31% of males are obese. Only 17, 1% males and 4, 3% females are physically active. Description of the problem Croatian Ministry of Health and Croatian Institute of Public Health have initiated National Program of health promotion „Living Healthy”.Croatian government has adopted this Program as a model of comprehensive intervention with the aim of decreasing behavioral, biomedical and sociomedical risks for NCDs. Program consists of 5 components: health education, physical activity, health and nutrition, health and working place and health and environment, with the goal of comprehensive prevention and inclusion of all age groups in all settings. Program is implemented through 21 county public health institutes in collaboration with local authority and civil society. Results Health education, as component of National Program has become a part of school curriculum ; in 120 primary schools in Croatia that do not have sport gyms are introduced polygons for training through Program ; paths for walking are established in 8 counties, 4 companies get the title “Heathy Company” for promoting health in the workplace, criteria for the food labeling with the pledge ‘Living healthy’ for the food with higher nutritional have been established, guidelines for nutrition of school children have been made. Further implementation and evaluation of Program are coming ahead. Lessons For effective implementation of health promotion interventions it is necessary to act multidisciplinary, involving all stakeholders, at the national, local and individual level through legislation, guidelines and education and offering healthier choices that need to become more accessible to the population.

health promotion ; non communicable diseases ; health education

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