Results of European Heart Network Pilot Project “A Vending Machine for a Friend”

Roberto Volpe; Sigita Glaveckaite; Gianluca Sotis; Dziugile Kersnauskaite; Kristina Sulskute; Vita Polevoda; Ingrida Dudoniene; Massimo Volpe

doi:doi:10.11648/j.jfns.20231103.11

Results of European Heart Network Pilot Project “A Vending Machine for a Friend”

Roberto Volpe, Sigita Glaveckaite, Gianluca Sotis, Dziugile Kersnauskaite, Kristina Sulskute, Vita Polevoda, Ingrida Dudoniene, Massimo Volpe

Published in Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences (Volume 11, Issue 3)

Received: 21 April 2023 Accepted: 9 May 2023 Published: 18 May 2023

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Abstract

Children often grow up in obesogenic environments that promote unhealthy diets. Consequently, many European children are overweight. Vending machines (that usually distribute foods rich in fat, sugar, salt and calories) located in schools are one factor that contributes to this. The aim of the pilot project “A vending machine for a friend" of the Italian Society for Cardiovascular Prevention (SIPREC) in collaboration with the Lithuanian Heart Association (LHA) and under the aegis and sponsorship of the European Heart Network (EHN), has been to regulate and improve the nutritional quality of food and beverages served in vending machines, cafeterias and school canteens. In the pilot project were included 3 Italian and 2 Lithuanian high schools. Seventy-eight Italian students and seventy-eight Lithuanian students in the 2^nd and 3^rd year of high school, joined the intervention group, undertaking to consume only foods and beverages from “healthy” vending machines and healthy snacks in the cafeteria, versus seventy-seven Italian students and ninety-seven Lithuanian students in the 2^nd and 3^rd year of high school who were part of the control group. The intervention has also included an education and training program on healthy food dedicated to the students and to the teachers. The results of the Body Mass Index (BMI) in the intervention group (-2.1% in the Italian intervention group versus +0.0% in the control group and -2.2% in the Lithuanian intervention group versus +0.5% in the control group), and of the questionnaire administered after the seminars (+53.4% of improvement in the Italian intervention group versus just +2,5% in the control group, and +21.6% of improvement in the Lithuanian intervention group versus +3% in the control group), indicates the good results achieved by the students who have participated in the project. “Healthy” vending machines together with educational programs might be a good strategy for creation of a healthy nutritional environment in high schools to tackle overweight and obesity in adolescents. Bigger studies are needed to prove concept.

Published in	Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences (Volume 11, Issue 3)
DOI	10.11648/j.jfns.20231103.11
Page(s)	63-69
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

High-School Students, Vending Machines, Healthy Nutrition

References

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[4]	Kreutz R, Dobrowolski P, Prejbisz A, et al: Lifestyle, psychological, socioeconomic and environmental factors and their impact on hypertension during the coronarovirus disease 2019 pandemic. J Hypertens 2021: 39: 1077-89.
[5]	Raleigh VS: Trends in life expectancy in EU and other OECD countries. Why Are Improvements Slowing? OECD Health Working Papers 2019 doi: org/10.1787/223159ab-en.
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[7]	Children, food and nutrition. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for every child. October 2019. ISBN: 978-82-806-5003-7.
[8]	Volpe M, Gallo G, Modena MG, et al: Update recommendations on cardiovascular prevention in 2022: an executive document of the Italian Society of Cardiovascular Prevention. High Blood Press Cardiovasc Prev 2022; 29: 91-102.
[9]	Kern DM, Auchnicloss AH, Steher MF, et al: Neighborhood prices of healthier and unhealthier foods and associations with diet quality: evidence from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2017 doi: org/10.3390/ijerph14111394.
[10]	Marathe PH, Gao HX, Close KL: American Diabetes Association standards of medical care in diabetes. J Diabetes 2017; 9: 320-324.
[11]	Pierce JS, Aroian K, Caldwell C, et al: The ups and downs of parenting young children with type 1 diabetes: crowd sourcing study. Journal of Pediatric Psychology 2017; 42: 846-860.
[12]	Volpe R, Natasa J, Volpe M, et al: Doctors, teachers, students, film-makers, and journalists allied in cardio-vascular prevention. Ann Public Health Res 2021; 8: 1105-9.
[13]	D'Ottavio U, Fiorio M, Mongiello C, et al: Proposta di legge 2016, No. 3883. Disposizioni per garantire l'adeguatezza dell'apporto nutrizionale degli alimenti e delle bevande somministrati mediante distributori automatici situati in luoghi pubblici frequentati da minori. 2016. www.camera.it/leg17/126?idDocumento=3883.
[14]	Andriukaitis V: Public Health. Breaking the chilhood obesity vicious cycle: Commission launches EU Health Award for cities, NGOs and schools. E-News 01.04.2019.
[15]	Gornitza CP: Obesity isn’t an unstoppable trend - here’s what we can do differently. In: The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting. 2020. www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/01/obesity-crisis-how-we-can-help-children-to-eat-better.

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APA Style

Roberto Volpe, Sigita Glaveckaite, Gianluca Sotis, Dziugile Kersnauskaite, Kristina Sulskute, et al. (2023). Results of European Heart Network Pilot Project “A Vending Machine for a Friend”. Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences, 11(3), 63-69. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20231103.11

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ACS Style

Roberto Volpe; Sigita Glaveckaite; Gianluca Sotis; Dziugile Kersnauskaite; Kristina Sulskute, et al. Results of European Heart Network Pilot Project “A Vending Machine for a Friend”. J. Food Nutr. Sci. 2023, 11(3), 63-69. doi: 10.11648/j.jfns.20231103.11

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AMA Style

Roberto Volpe, Sigita Glaveckaite, Gianluca Sotis, Dziugile Kersnauskaite, Kristina Sulskute, et al. Results of European Heart Network Pilot Project “A Vending Machine for a Friend”. J Food Nutr Sci. 2023;11(3):63-69. doi: 10.11648/j.jfns.20231103.11

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@article{10.11648/j.jfns.20231103.11,
  author = {Roberto Volpe and Sigita Glaveckaite and Gianluca Sotis and Dziugile Kersnauskaite and Kristina Sulskute and Vita Polevoda and Ingrida Dudoniene and Massimo Volpe},
  title = {Results of European Heart Network Pilot Project “A Vending Machine for a Friend”},
  journal = {Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences},
  volume = {11},
  number = {3},
  pages = {63-69},
  doi = {10.11648/j.jfns.20231103.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20231103.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jfns.20231103.11},
  abstract = {Children often grow up in obesogenic environments that promote unhealthy diets. Consequently, many European children are overweight. Vending machines (that usually distribute foods rich in fat, sugar, salt and calories) located in schools are one factor that contributes to this. The aim of the pilot project “A vending machine for a friend" of the Italian Society for Cardiovascular Prevention (SIPREC) in collaboration with the Lithuanian Heart Association (LHA) and under the aegis and sponsorship of the European Heart Network (EHN), has been to regulate and improve the nutritional quality of food and beverages served in vending machines, cafeterias and school canteens. In the pilot project were included 3 Italian and 2 Lithuanian high schools. Seventy-eight Italian students and seventy-eight Lithuanian students in the 2nd and 3rd year of high school, joined the intervention group, undertaking to consume only foods and beverages from “healthy” vending machines and healthy snacks in the cafeteria, versus seventy-seven Italian students and ninety-seven Lithuanian students in the 2nd and 3rd year of high school who were part of the control group. The intervention has also included an education and training program on healthy food dedicated to the students and to the teachers. The results of the Body Mass Index (BMI) in the intervention group (-2.1% in the Italian intervention group versus +0.0% in the control group and -2.2% in the Lithuanian intervention group versus +0.5% in the control group), and of the questionnaire administered after the seminars (+53.4% of improvement in the Italian intervention group versus just +2,5% in the control group, and +21.6% of improvement in the Lithuanian intervention group versus +3% in the control group), indicates the good results achieved by the students who have participated in the project. “Healthy” vending machines together with educational programs might be a good strategy for creation of a healthy nutritional environment in high schools to tackle overweight and obesity in adolescents. Bigger studies are needed to prove concept.},
 year = {2023}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Results of European Heart Network Pilot Project “A Vending Machine for a Friend”
AU  - Roberto Volpe
AU  - Sigita Glaveckaite
AU  - Gianluca Sotis
AU  - Dziugile Kersnauskaite
AU  - Kristina Sulskute
AU  - Vita Polevoda
AU  - Ingrida Dudoniene
AU  - Massimo Volpe
Y1  - 2023/05/18
PY  - 2023
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20231103.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.jfns.20231103.11
T2  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
JF  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
JO  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
SP  - 63
EP  - 69
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7293
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20231103.11
AB  - Children often grow up in obesogenic environments that promote unhealthy diets. Consequently, many European children are overweight. Vending machines (that usually distribute foods rich in fat, sugar, salt and calories) located in schools are one factor that contributes to this. The aim of the pilot project “A vending machine for a friend" of the Italian Society for Cardiovascular Prevention (SIPREC) in collaboration with the Lithuanian Heart Association (LHA) and under the aegis and sponsorship of the European Heart Network (EHN), has been to regulate and improve the nutritional quality of food and beverages served in vending machines, cafeterias and school canteens. In the pilot project were included 3 Italian and 2 Lithuanian high schools. Seventy-eight Italian students and seventy-eight Lithuanian students in the 2nd and 3rd year of high school, joined the intervention group, undertaking to consume only foods and beverages from “healthy” vending machines and healthy snacks in the cafeteria, versus seventy-seven Italian students and ninety-seven Lithuanian students in the 2nd and 3rd year of high school who were part of the control group. The intervention has also included an education and training program on healthy food dedicated to the students and to the teachers. The results of the Body Mass Index (BMI) in the intervention group (-2.1% in the Italian intervention group versus +0.0% in the control group and -2.2% in the Lithuanian intervention group versus +0.5% in the control group), and of the questionnaire administered after the seminars (+53.4% of improvement in the Italian intervention group versus just +2,5% in the control group, and +21.6% of improvement in the Lithuanian intervention group versus +3% in the control group), indicates the good results achieved by the students who have participated in the project. “Healthy” vending machines together with educational programs might be a good strategy for creation of a healthy nutritional environment in high schools to tackle overweight and obesity in adolescents. Bigger studies are needed to prove concept.
VL  - 11
IS  - 3
ER  -

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Author Information

Roberto Volpe

Italian Society for Cardiovascular Prevention (SIPREC), Rome, Italy
Sigita Glaveckaite

Lithuanian Heart Association (LHA), Vilnius, Lithuania
Gianluca Sotis

Prevention Unit, National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Rome, Italy
Dziugile Kersnauskaite

Institute of Clinical Medicine, Vilnius University Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius, Lithuania
Kristina Sulskute

Institute of Clinical Medicine, Vilnius University Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius, Lithuania
Vita Polevoda

Institute of Clinical Medicine, Vilnius University Faculty of Medicine, Vilnius, Lithuania
Ingrida Dudoniene

Lithuanian Heart Association (LHA), Vilnius, Lithuania
Massimo Volpe

Italian Society for Cardiovascular Prevention (SIPREC), Rome, Italy

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Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Roberto Volpe, Sigita Glaveckaite, Gianluca Sotis, Dziugile Kersnauskaite, Kristina Sulskute, et al. (2023). Results of European Heart Network Pilot Project “A Vending Machine for a Friend”. Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences, 11(3), 63-69. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20231103.11

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ACS Style

Roberto Volpe; Sigita Glaveckaite; Gianluca Sotis; Dziugile Kersnauskaite; Kristina Sulskute, et al. Results of European Heart Network Pilot Project “A Vending Machine for a Friend”. J. Food Nutr. Sci. 2023, 11(3), 63-69. doi: 10.11648/j.jfns.20231103.11

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AMA Style

Roberto Volpe, Sigita Glaveckaite, Gianluca Sotis, Dziugile Kersnauskaite, Kristina Sulskute, et al. Results of European Heart Network Pilot Project “A Vending Machine for a Friend”. J Food Nutr Sci. 2023;11(3):63-69. doi: 10.11648/j.jfns.20231103.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.jfns.20231103.11,
  author = {Roberto Volpe and Sigita Glaveckaite and Gianluca Sotis and Dziugile Kersnauskaite and Kristina Sulskute and Vita Polevoda and Ingrida Dudoniene and Massimo Volpe},
  title = {Results of European Heart Network Pilot Project “A Vending Machine for a Friend”},
  journal = {Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences},
  volume = {11},
  number = {3},
  pages = {63-69},
  doi = {10.11648/j.jfns.20231103.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20231103.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jfns.20231103.11},
  abstract = {Children often grow up in obesogenic environments that promote unhealthy diets. Consequently, many European children are overweight. Vending machines (that usually distribute foods rich in fat, sugar, salt and calories) located in schools are one factor that contributes to this. The aim of the pilot project “A vending machine for a friend" of the Italian Society for Cardiovascular Prevention (SIPREC) in collaboration with the Lithuanian Heart Association (LHA) and under the aegis and sponsorship of the European Heart Network (EHN), has been to regulate and improve the nutritional quality of food and beverages served in vending machines, cafeterias and school canteens. In the pilot project were included 3 Italian and 2 Lithuanian high schools. Seventy-eight Italian students and seventy-eight Lithuanian students in the 2nd and 3rd year of high school, joined the intervention group, undertaking to consume only foods and beverages from “healthy” vending machines and healthy snacks in the cafeteria, versus seventy-seven Italian students and ninety-seven Lithuanian students in the 2nd and 3rd year of high school who were part of the control group. The intervention has also included an education and training program on healthy food dedicated to the students and to the teachers. The results of the Body Mass Index (BMI) in the intervention group (-2.1% in the Italian intervention group versus +0.0% in the control group and -2.2% in the Lithuanian intervention group versus +0.5% in the control group), and of the questionnaire administered after the seminars (+53.4% of improvement in the Italian intervention group versus just +2,5% in the control group, and +21.6% of improvement in the Lithuanian intervention group versus +3% in the control group), indicates the good results achieved by the students who have participated in the project. “Healthy” vending machines together with educational programs might be a good strategy for creation of a healthy nutritional environment in high schools to tackle overweight and obesity in adolescents. Bigger studies are needed to prove concept.},
 year = {2023}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Results of European Heart Network Pilot Project “A Vending Machine for a Friend”
AU  - Roberto Volpe
AU  - Sigita Glaveckaite
AU  - Gianluca Sotis
AU  - Dziugile Kersnauskaite
AU  - Kristina Sulskute
AU  - Vita Polevoda
AU  - Ingrida Dudoniene
AU  - Massimo Volpe
Y1  - 2023/05/18
PY  - 2023
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20231103.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.jfns.20231103.11
T2  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
JF  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
JO  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
SP  - 63
EP  - 69
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-7293
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20231103.11
AB  - Children often grow up in obesogenic environments that promote unhealthy diets. Consequently, many European children are overweight. Vending machines (that usually distribute foods rich in fat, sugar, salt and calories) located in schools are one factor that contributes to this. The aim of the pilot project “A vending machine for a friend" of the Italian Society for Cardiovascular Prevention (SIPREC) in collaboration with the Lithuanian Heart Association (LHA) and under the aegis and sponsorship of the European Heart Network (EHN), has been to regulate and improve the nutritional quality of food and beverages served in vending machines, cafeterias and school canteens. In the pilot project were included 3 Italian and 2 Lithuanian high schools. Seventy-eight Italian students and seventy-eight Lithuanian students in the 2nd and 3rd year of high school, joined the intervention group, undertaking to consume only foods and beverages from “healthy” vending machines and healthy snacks in the cafeteria, versus seventy-seven Italian students and ninety-seven Lithuanian students in the 2nd and 3rd year of high school who were part of the control group. The intervention has also included an education and training program on healthy food dedicated to the students and to the teachers. The results of the Body Mass Index (BMI) in the intervention group (-2.1% in the Italian intervention group versus +0.0% in the control group and -2.2% in the Lithuanian intervention group versus +0.5% in the control group), and of the questionnaire administered after the seminars (+53.4% of improvement in the Italian intervention group versus just +2,5% in the control group, and +21.6% of improvement in the Lithuanian intervention group versus +3% in the control group), indicates the good results achieved by the students who have participated in the project. “Healthy” vending machines together with educational programs might be a good strategy for creation of a healthy nutritional environment in high schools to tackle overweight and obesity in adolescents. Bigger studies are needed to prove concept.
VL  - 11
IS  - 3
ER  -

Copy | Download