Children, Youth and Environments 15(1), 2005 “La Scuola in Forma”1 —The In-Shape School: An Educational Project on Childhood Obesity

Can we prevent childhood obesity through the school? How can we involve the whole educational community in encouraging healthy habits and preventing childhood obesity? In order to find answers to these two questions, we implemented The In-Shape School in Maniago in northern Italy (population 11,000). Its principal objective was to achieve the participation of the whole community. Our vision of education goes far beyond the classroom to include a participative process where children can design their own project in collaboration with adults. Throughout, we worked simultaneously on knowledge acquisition, teaching places and times and mobility schemes. The article describes the project’s goal, assumptions, and the activities that sustain it. The conclusions show that it is possible to create a school project with the whole city without interfering with programmed daily school activities. The school does not need to adapt to the supposed imperatives of an "anti-obesity program, " but can use what is already done in its day-to-day life to promote new healthy habits