From Science 2 School: Sustainably healthy – active & veggy

Survey of the prevalence of vegetarian diets linked to sports & physical exercise
among Austrian pupils, teachers and principals of secondary levels I and II

Join us in the Austria-wide school study!

From Science 2 School is the first study in which a scale of movement patterns are linked to various diets (traditional, current trends) in the school context.

In order to make informed statements, a large number of subjects are needed.

Through an online survey, this Austria-wide school study will be available to all pupils, teachers, and principals of secondary levels I and II. The survey will examine the topics of sports & physical exercise, diet, and health.
Therefore, we would like to kindly invite all pupils, teachers, and principals of secondary levels I and II in Austria to participate!

Be part of it!

In Austria, approximately 2,680 schools operate at secondary level I and/or II with approximately 771,500 pupils and 89,240 teachers/principals.

For this school-study to obtain meaningful results and to be carried out successfully, it is very important that all possible pupils, teachers, and principals participate.

Let’s reach for the stars together and set a milestone: every individual counts!
Be there, join us, and many thanks!

Aim

From Science 2 School will be through the University College of Teacher Education Tyrol (PHT – Pädagogischen Hochschule Tirol) in the area of Sport Didactics/Sport Pedagogy as a didactic research project carried out at the Department of Subject Didactics and Educational Research and Development (expert team: „Physcial Activity, Sports & Health“). This Austria-wide school study is funded by the Tiroler Wissenschaftsförderung (TWF), supported by the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research (BMBWF – Bundesministerium für Bildung, Wissenschaft und Forschung, Abteilung I/7 – Schul- und Universitätssport), and approved by all 9 Austrian Federal Education Authorities (Bildungsdirektionen).

This interdisciplinary project (Sports Science, Nutrition Science) is the first study to survey the prevalence of different diets linked to sports & physical exercise in the school context.

Motivation

Sport & physical exercise as well as nutrition are generally considered “medicine”.
Exercise and eating habits are key factors for good or poor health; their influence together is of crucial importance for the prevention or the development of chronic (so-called non-communicable) diseases.

Chronic disease is not only increasing in adults, but also more and more children and young people are developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and their risk factors (e.g. overweight, inactivity). This is mainly due to a lack of physical exercise in connection with being overweight. Health experts indicate overweight/obesity as a global crisis and the lack of exercise/physical activity as the most serious health problem of the 21st century.

Sport & physical exercise, and nutrition all together offer a particularly promising solution to the current dramatic health situation of children and adolescents: In Austria, about 30% of children and adolescents are overweight/obese^1-3 and about 85% are less active than the recommended level of daily physical activity^2,3.
The two main pillars of health – permanently linked – offer maximum success through their cumulative effects. As a health measure, this dual-health approach is therefore considered “Best Practice”.

Although sport & physical exercise, and nutrition are considered “medicine”, there is scientific consensus that nutrition (choice of food and diet) already plays a greater role when compared to sport & physical exercise – in terms of health and stable body weight in preschool age.

According to the state educational mandate of the Austrian curricula for secondary levels I and II^4-6, sport & physical exercise as well as nutrition fall within the scope of the general education goal and are thus at the center of a sustainable teaching-learning process for the educational area ‘Health and Exercise’.
Health is therefore the overriding educational goal with regard to its competence and action oriented implementation^4-6 relevant for all compulsory subjects, whereby health promotion with its complex subject areas is one of the top learning goals of didactic interventions.
However, health promotion is primarily seen as a special task of school sports, which means that the compulsory subject of Physical Exercise and Sports has a “leading role”^4-6.

Intention

Currently, information exists about sport & physical exercise behavior in Austria, but the level of information about current dietary trends in Austria is limited to adults and the overall social context. In particular, information regarding current dietary trends of (1) children and adolescents and (2) in the school context is lacking – i.e. there is no information available about the current dietary trends of Austrian pupils, teachers, or principals.

Therefore, this school study was designed to examine for the first time the relationship between physical activity and kind of diet (mixed, vegetarian, vegan) in the school context, taking a large sample into account.

From Science 2 School builds on the two main pillars of health and was created as a follow-up to the didactic project ‘Basic Competencies for Healthy Lifestyle’ on one hand and to the NURMI Study (Europe’s largest running study) on the other hand, to transfer scientific results into educational research and implement in the school setting.

Aim

The aim of this school study is to ascertain and scale the prevalence of current physical activity levels in connection with traditional (mixed) and alternative (plant-based) diets among Austrian pupils, teachers, and principals in secondary levels I and II.

From Science 2 School also aims to contribute to the very limited data currently available on adults regarding current nutritional trends. Moreover, information regarding dietary trends in children and adolescents (10-19) is completely lacking. This work is necessary to expand the epidemiological-didactic knowledge for children and adolescents especially.

Dreaming is allowed!

Across Austria, roughly 2,680 Schools operate at secondary level I and/or II. That means that the size of the potential sample is about 860,760 participants with about 771,500 pupils and 89,240 teachers and principals.

From Science 2 School would like to be guided by this impressive number. A milestone can be reached with particularly meaningful results. This can be achieved with the largest possible sample through the combined participation of pupils, their teachers, and principals.

Purpose

This school study has the potential to make a significant contribution to the mapping of current social trends – Especially for the peer groups of children and adolescents aged 10-19 years – via allocation of results to the school environment.

The results are intended to serve as a basis for reflecting on the offerings of school-based exercise and nutrition for health promotion. This is in order to develop recommendations, concrete measures, and possible courses of action.
With regards to the school health offer, the results will also serve as a basis in order to target and to design future exercise and nutritional offers. The goal is to serve simple, and effective health promotion at a low cost at Austrian Secondary schools levels I and II.

(1) Bentham J, et al.; NCD Risk Factor Collabortion (NCD-RisC) (2017) Worldwide trends in body-mass index, underweight, overweight, and obesity from 1975 to 2016: a pooled analysis of 2416 population-based measurement studies in 128·9 million children, adolescents, and adults. The Lancet, 390(10113):2627-2642.
(2) BMG –Bundesministerium für Gesundheit; Griebler R, Winkler P, Bengough T (2016) Österreichischer Kinder- und Jugendgesundheitsbericht. Ergebnisbericht: 67-68, 71, 78-79.
(3) BMG – Bundesministerium für Gesundheit; Ramelow D, Teutsch F, Hofmann F, Felder-Puig R; Ludwig Boltzmann Institut Health Promotion Research (2015) Gesundheit und Gesundheitsverhalten von österreichischen Schülern und Schülerinnen. Ergebnisse des WHO-HBSC-Survey 2014: 7-8, 10-11.
(4) Lehrplan AHS Unterstufe (Sekundarstufe I) (AHS, 2018a). Anlage A: Erster Teil. Allgemeines Bildungsziel, Punkt 5. Bildungsbereiche. Gesundheit und Bewegung: 10; Sechster Teil. Lehrpläne der einzelnen Unterrichtsgegenstände. Pflichtgegenstand Bewegung und Sport. Beiträge zu Bildungsbereichen: 111. www.bmb.gv.at/schulen/unterricht/lp/lp_ahs_unterstufe.html, (9. 1. 2018).
(5) Lehrplan AHS Oberstufe (Sekundarstufe II) (AHS, 2018b). Anlage D: Erster Teil. Allgemeines Bildungsziel, Punkt 5. Bildungsbereiche. Gesundheit und Bewegung: 10; Sechster Teil. Lehrpläne der einzelnen Unterrichtsgegenstände. Pflichtgegenstand Bewegung und Sport. Beiträge zu Bildungsbereichen: 115. www.bmb.gv.at/schulen/unterricht/lp/lp_ahs_oberstufe.html, (9. 1. 2018).
(6) Lehrplan der Neuen Mittelschule (NMS, 2018). Anlage 1: Erster Teil. Allgemeines Bildungsziel, Punkt 5. Bildungsbereiche. Gesundheit und Bewegung: 5; Sechster Teil. Lehrpläne der einzelnen Unterrichtsgegenstände. Pflichtgegenstand Bewegung und Sport. Beiträge zu Bildungsbereichen: 102. www.bmb.gv.at/schulen/unterricht/lp/lp_nms.html, (9. 1. 2018).

Timescale

Demands

The online survey is available from October 2019 to May 2020, i.e. the school study is possible to conduct during most of the school year 2019/2020.

The effort needed to participate in the school study is low:

Answering the online questionnaire only takes approximately 10 min.
All the pupils, teachers, and principals can simply and easily complete the survey via Smartphone, Tablet, or PC/Laptop, either in class (i.e. during class leader lesson, or also in every subject) or during the break afterwards.
Students can also take the survey together with their parents/guardians at home via PC/Laptop, Tablet, or Smartphone.

Procedure

The online survey will take place in the 2019/20 school year at all Austrian schools at secondary levels I and II (all school levels, all types of schools). All of the students, teachers, and principals will be informed:

Participation in the study is voluntary and can be cancelled or revoked at any time without reason and without consequence.
Participation in the study is anonymous,e. no one will know what information has been given, it is not possible to assign the data to a person, and therefore no information can be concluded about specific participants.
All data will be treated confidentially, i.e. the disclosure of information to third parties who are not part of the school study team is excluded.
The data collected is stored and processed exclusively for scientific purposes (storage, evaluation, presentation, publication).

At the start of the study, all Austrian schools that operate at Secondary level I and/or II will be contacted via email about performing the survey (if necessary, also in person, e.g. by telephone), with the web-link to the online questionnaire for distribution (two different versions, (1) pupils (2) teachers/principals) i.e. the school management will inform the faculty, the teachers will inform their students, and they will perform the online survey together.

At the end of the data collection, the data will be evaluated. The results will be published, provided, and presented to the BMBWF (Bundesministerium für Bildung, Wissenschaft und Forschung/Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research) and the Federal Education Authorities (Bildungsdirektionen) of Austria

The short standardized online questionnaire consists of 5 parts with questions about the person (part A), sports & exercise (part B), nutrition (part C), health (part D), and miscellaneous (part E).

The survey, in the context of this school study, is therefore based on self-report/self assessment.
Please read each question carefully and answer by clicking on the box that best expresses your opinion (sometimes multiple answers are possible, sometimes you must enter a number or answer, sometimes you must rank or weigh your answer).
There are no “correct” or “incorrect” answers. Please answer all questions truthfully, thank you!
In order to identify contradictory information and obtain data that is as reliable as possible, control questions are also contained in the questionnaire.

The online questionnaire is available in 2 versions (different web-links) for pupils and for teachers/principals. Participants can access and complete the questionnaire via an encrypted interface.

Publications

Tanous DR, Ruedl G, Motevalli M, Wirnitzer KC (2024) Secondary School Randomized Controlled Interventions with a Minimum Dual Approach to Health and the links to BMI in Pupils: A PRISMA Study within the Project FROM SCIENCE 2 SCHOOL. In: Davison RCR, Tsolakidis E, Thompson JL, Ferrauti A, Piacentini MF (eds., 2024). 29st Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science. ECSS 2024, 2-5 July 2024, Glasgow – Scotland, UK. Book of Abstracts. Oral Presentation. Session: OP-MH34 School based exercise interventions: p. 484
Bhardwaj J, Schätzer M, Gutmann N, Hoppichler F, Drenowatz D, Cocca A, Tanous DR, Motevalli M, Wirnitzer G, Ruedl G, Kirschner W, Wirnitzer KC (2024) From Science 2 School – Eine Studie zum Ernährungs- und Bewegungsverhalten österreichischer Schüler*innen und Lehrer*innen/Schulleiter*innen. Ernährungs Umschau 2024; 71(5): 34–44. DOI: 10.4455/eu.2024.012. https://www.ernaehrungs-umschau.de/print-artikel/15-05-2024-from-science-2-school/
Bhardwaj J, Schätzer M, Gutmann N, Hoppichler F, Drenowatz D, Cocca A, Tanous DR, Motevalli M, Wirnitzer G, Ruedl G, Kirschner W, Wirnitzer KC (2024) From Science 2 School – A study on the diet and exercise behaviour of Austrian students and teachers/school principals. Ernährungs Umschau 2024; 71(5): 34–44. DOI: 10.4455/eu.2024.012. https://www.ernaehrungs-umschau.de/english-articles/25-06-2024-from-science-2-school/
Troppe I, Tanous DR, Wirnitzer KC (2024) Bewegung & Sport im Lead der schulischen Gesundheitsförderung – Ein systematischer Review der Primarstufen-Curricula in der D-A-CH Region im Kontext des Pflichtfächerkanons. Bewegung & Sport – Die Fachzeitschrift für den Unterricht in Schulen, Kindergärten und Vereinen, Themenheft 02/2024 “Gesund sein, glücklich sein”, pp. 7-12; ungekürzte Vollversion, sowie Masterarbeit gesamt oder via Bibliothek der PHT.
Bhardwaj J, Schätzer M, Hoppichler F, Wirnitzer KC (2023) From Science 2 School – Österreichweite Schulstudie zum Zusammenhang von pflanzlichen Ernährungsformen und Bewegungsverhalten unter Sekundarstufenschüler*innen. Proceedings of ÖGPH – Österreichische Gesellschaft für Public Health 2023. Gesundheitswesen, Oktober 2023; 85(S 04): S241-S242. DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1773696. https://www.thieme-connect.de/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0043-1773696
Wirnitzer KC (2023) SCHOOL4euHEALTH. SCHOOL 4 better EUropean Public HEALTH – Tapping the Curricular Health Potential by EU Nations’ State. Keynote. 21. June 2023, 10-11 am. 5th International Workshop “Time Studies in Childhood and Youth”, 20th & 21th June 2023, Universitat Valencia, Facultat de Ciencies Sociales, Spain: https://www.gisbe-uv.es/workshop/5th_program/
Tanous DR, Wirnitzer K (2023) Sport und Veggie: Basics, Vorteile und wie es richtig klappt! (Teil 3). Dienstag, 13. Juni 2023, 9.45-10.30 Uhr & 12.45-13.30 Uhr. PTS-Wissenschaftswoche (12. – 16. Juni 2023), BMBWF. Zoom-Event österreichweit. https://www.bmbwf.gv.at/Themen/schule/schulpraxis/termine/veranstaltungen/pts_wiwo.html
Tanous DR, Wirnitzer K (2023) Gesunde Ernährung is(s)t cool für Klima und Sport! (Teil 2). Dienstag, 13. Juni 2023, 9-9.45 Uhr & 12-12.45 Uhr. PTS-Wissenschaftswoche (12. – 16. Juni 2023), BMBWF. Zoom-Event österreichweit. https://www.bmbwf.gv.at/Themen/schule/schulpraxis/termine/veranstaltungen/pts_wiwo.html
Tanous DR, Wirnitzer K (2023) Basics für Dein Fitnesstraining: Kraft und Ausdauer (Teil 1). Dienstag, 13. Juni 2023, 8.15-9 Uhr & 11.15-12 Uhr. PTS-Wissenschaftswoche (12. – 16. Juni 2023), BMBWF. Zoom-Event österreichweit. https://www.bmbwf.gv.at/Themen/schule/schulpraxis/termine/veranstaltungen/pts_wiwo.html
Wirnitzer KC, Bhardwaj J, Schätzer M, Hoppichler F (2023) From Science 2 School – Österreichweite Schulstudie zum Zusammenhang von pflanzlichen Ernährungsformen und Bewegungsverhalten bei Sekundarstufenpädagog*innen; Abstract 6. In: Fasching P, Traub J, Clemens P (eds.) Nutrition 2023 | Dreiländertagung der Österreichischen Arbeitsgemeinschaft Klinische Ernährung (AKE), der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Ernährungsmedizin (DGEM) und der Gesellschaft für Klinische Ernährung der Schweiz“ (GESKES), 1.-3. Juni 2023, Bregenz. Aktuelle Ernährungsmedizin 2023; 48(03): E3. DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1768087. https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0043-1768087#info
Wirnitzer KC, Bhardwaj J, Schätzer M, Hoppichler F (2023) From Science 2 School – Österreichweite Schulstudie zum Zusammenhang von pflanzlichen Ernährungsformen und Bewegungsverhalten bei Sekundarstufenpädagog*innen. Poster. Nutrition 2023 | Dreiländertagung der Österreichischen Arbeitsgemeinschaft Klinische Ernährung (AKE), der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Ernährungsmedizin (DGEM) und der Gesellschaft für Klinische Ernährung der Schweiz“ (GESKES), 1.-3. Juni 2023, Bregenz.
Bhardwaj J, Schätzer M, Hoppichler F, Wirnitzer KC (2023) From Science 2 School – Österreichweite Schulstudie zum Zusammenhang von pflanzlichen Ernährungsformen und Bewegungsverhalten unter Sekundarstufenschüler*innen. Poster. ÖGPH – Österreichische Gesellschaft für Public Health, 25.-26. Mai 2023, St. Pölten
Tanous DR, Wirnitzer KC (2023). Wellbeing in School? Reflections from a health-focused PhD project within a nationwide school study based on behavior in Austria. ITS Volda –International Student Conference. https://www.hivolda.no/en/its_volda/its-volda-programme. 25. April, 2023, Volda, Norway.
Tanous DR, Ruedl G, Kirschner W, Drenowatz C, Craddock J, Rosemann T, Wirnitzer K. (2022). School health programs of physical education and/or diet among pupils of primary and secondary school levels I and II linked to body mass index: A systematic review protocol within the project From Science 2 School. PLoS One, 17 (10): e0275012. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275012. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0275012
Wirnitzer KC, Tanous DR, Motevalli M, Göbel G, Wirnitzer G, Drenowatz C, Ruedl G, Cocca A, Kirschner W (2022) Study protocol of “From Science 2 School”—prevalence of sports and physical exercise linked to omnivorous, vegetarian and vegan, diets among Austrian secondary schools. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 4, 2022. DOI: 10.3389/fspor.2022.967915. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2022.967915/full
Jones P, Wirnitzer K (2022) Hodges’ model: the Sustainable Development Goals and public health – universal health coverage demands a universal framework. BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health 2022; e000254. doi: 10.1136/bmjnph-2021-000254. https://nutrition.bmj.com/content/early/2022/09/14/bmjnph-2021-000254
Wirnitzer, K.C.; Drenowatz, C.; Cocca, A.; Tanous, D.R.; Motevalli, M.; Wirnitzer, G.; Schätzer, M.; Ruedl, G.; Kirschner, W. (2022). Health behaviors of Austrian Secondary School Teachers and Principals at a Glance: First Results of the From Science 2 School Study Focusing on Sports Linked to Mixed, Vegetarian, and Vegan Diets. Nutrients 2022, 14(5), 1065; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14051065. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/5/1065
Tanous DR (2022) There is a huge major elephant in the room today: People are unhealthy! Edu Science Slam, Tuesday, 22. February 2022, 19-20.30 pm. DACH-Nachwuchsakademie, 21.-25. February 2022: https://ph-tirol.ac.at/nachwuchsakademie
Tanous DR, Wirnitzer K (2022) First Results of From Science 2 School: Sustainably healthy – active & veggy. Survey of health behaviors, including physical activity, sports, and exercise linked with vegetarian diet prevalence, among Austrian pupils, teachers, and principals of secondary levels I and II. Session: Präsentationen – Geistige- und körperliche Gesundheit von Schüler:innen, Lehrer:innen und Student:innen, Monday, 21. February 2022, 11-12.30 am. DACH-Nachwuchsakademie, 21.-25. February 2022: https://ph-tirol.ac.at/nachwuchsakademie
Tanous DR, Motevalli M, Wirnitzer K (2022). Sex Differences in Health Behaviors of Austrian Teachers and School Principals. International Journal of Population Data Science, 7(2): https://ijpds.org/article/view/1747/3336; https://ijpds.org/issue/view/24
Motevalli M, Tanous DR, Wirnitzer K (2022). Sex Differences in Health Behaviors of Austrian Teachers and School Principals. International Collaboration Conference on Population Health and Wellbeing Research. “Schools and Education”, 10. February 2022. https://healthandcareresearchwales.org/about/events/nternational-collaboration-conference
Tanous DR, Motevalli M, Wirnitzer K (2022). From Science 2 School: Sustainably healthy – active & veggy. Current trends of diet (mixed, vegetarian, vegan) related to body mass index among teachers and principals at Austrian secondary schools I and II. International Collaboration Conference on Population Health and Wellbeing Research. Poster, Workshop “Schools and Education”, 10. February 2022. https://healthandcareresearchwales.org/about/events/nternational-collaboration-conference
Tanous DR, Motevalli M, Wirnitzer K (2022). From Science 2 School: Sustainably healthy – active & veggy. Diet trends (mixed, vegetarian, vegan) related to body mass index and sex differences among teachers and principals at Austrian secondary schools I and II. International Collaboration Conference on Population Health and Wellbeing Research. Presentation, Workshop “Schools and Education”, 10. February 2022. https://healthandcareresearchwales.org/about/events/nternational-collaboration-conference
Wirnitzer, K.C.; Drenowatz, C.; Cocca, A.; Tanous, D.R.; Motevalli, M.;Wirnitzer, G.; Schätzer, M.; Ruedl, G.; Kirschner, W. (2021). Health Behaviors of Austrian Secondary Level Pupils at a Glance: First Results of the From Science 2 School Study Focusing on Sports Linked to Mixed, Vegetarian, and Vegan Diets. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18(23), 12782. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph182312782. https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/23/12782.
Wirnitzer K, Knitel D (2021). Stay Healthy in SARS‐CoV‐2 Times of Crisis – Dual Health Approach as a Minimal Recommendation. An e‐learning contribution based on smartphone and Zoom. Innovatives, interdisziplinäres, lehrveranstaltungs‐, modul‐, instituts‐ und hochschulübergreifendes Lehre‐Projekt für das Abschlusssemester der PH Tirol im Schwerpunkt „Bewegung, Sport & Gesundheit“. Atlas der Guten Lehre. Das Beispiel wurde für den Ars Docendi Staatspreis für exzellente Lehre 2021 nominiert. Online unter (3. 12. 2021); https://ph-tirol.ac.at/atlas-der-guten-lehre-4-beitraege-der-ph-tirol;
Wirnitzer KC, Thangavelu M (11/2021) Sustainably Healthy, Active & Veggy. Prevalence of vegetarians and vegans in Austrian pupils, teachers of secondary level. Session Lifestyle Medicine. ECIM – European Congress for Integrative Medicine. Live-Online: 4-7 November 2021. European Journal of Integrative Medicine, Volume 48, December 2021, 101920: 14. Available online (24.1.2022): https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/european-journal-of-integrative-medicine/vol/48/suppl/C and https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876382021006387
Wirnitzer KC (4.11.2021) First Results from the “Sustainably Healthy, Active & Veggy” Study. Session Lifestyle Medicine. ECIM – European Congress for Integrative Medicine. Live-Online: 4 November 2021.
Martinz J, Tanous D, Gregori M, Wirnitzer K (2021). Schulgesundheitsprogramme für die Primarstufe. Ein systematisches Review für Österreich. Ernährung im Fokus 03/2021, Zeitschrift für Fach-, Lehr- und Beratungskräfte, BZfE. Schwerpunktheft „Kita- und Schulverpflegung“, Prävention & Therapie: 236-240.
Wirnitzer K (2021). Nachhaltig gesund – Vegane Ernährung in Bewegung und Sport. Übersichtsartikel. Fachzeitschrift Bewegung & Sport, Heft 3, Schwerpunkt Ernährung & Sport: 27-34.
Tanous DR, Wirnitzer K (2021). From Science 2 School: Sustainably healthy – active & veggy. First Results from the survey of the prevalence of vegetarian & vegan diets linked to sports & PA among Austrian pupils of secondary levels I and II. Poster Session, Hall D – Winner Poster Award. Saturday, Sept 11^th, 2021. World Health Congress 2021 Prague, September 10-12, 2021. https://whc.itcim.org/ and https://www.whc2021prague.com. Press: https://ph-tirol.ac.at/node/1984 and https://www.uibk.ac.at/newsroom/auszeichnung-fuer-innsbrucker-sportstudent.html.de
Wirnitzer K (2021). Vegan Diet in Health and Sports: Benefits and Advantages to Young People and Athletes – Lessons to be learned from a Dual Approach to improve the Health of Nations. Keynote Talk. Saturday, Sept 11^th, 2021; online video: https://www.whc2021prague.com/katharina-wirnitzer; World Health Congress 2021 Prague, September 10-12, 2021. https://whc.itcim.org/ and https://www.whc2021prague.com/katharina-wirnitzer
Motevalli M, Drenowatz C, Tanous DR, Khan NA, Wirnitzer K (2021). Management of Childhood Obesity—Time to Shift from Generalized to Personalized Intervention Strategies. Nutrients 2021, 13(4), 1200; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13041200. Open Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/4/1200
Wirnitzer K, Drenowatz C, Kirschner W, Tanous D, Rosemann T (2020). International Research & Knowledge Exchange for Addressing Today’s Global Health Paradox. Frontiers in Public Health. Event Abstracts. ISBN: 978-2-88966-537-2. DOI: 10.3389/978-2-88966-537-2.
Wirnitzer KC (2020). Vegan Diet in Sports and Exercise. Health Benefits and Advantages to Athletes and Physically Active People. A Narrative Review. Int J Sports Exerc Med 2020, 6(3):165. DOI: 10.23937/2469-5718/1510165. Open Access: https://clinmedjournals.org/articles/ijsem/international-journal-of-sports-and-exercise-medicine-ijsem-6-165.php and https://clinmedjournals.org/articles/ijsem/international-journal-of-sports-and-exercise-medicine-ijsem-6-165.pdf
Wirnitzer KC (2019). Vegan Diet in Health, Sports & Exercise: A dual approach for better public health – Lessons to be learned. 3rd SYMPOSIUM ON AYURVEDA, YOGA AND MEDITATION: Integrative health prevention approaches. 13. Dezember 2019, Medical University of Graz (MUG), Austria.
Wirnitzer K (2019). From Science 2 School: Nachhaltig gesund – bewegt & veggie. Forschungsskizze. transfer Forschung <> Schule, Heft 5, S. 241-243.
Wirnitzer KC (2019). From Science 2 School: Sustainably healthy – active & veggy. Survey of the prevalence of vegetarian diets linked to sports and physical exercise among Austrian pupils, teachers and principals of secondary level I and II. Poster Presentations, ICNM – International Conference on Nutrition in Medicine, July 26-27, 2019, Washington, D.C., USA.
Wirnitzer KC (2019). From Science 2 School: Sustainably healthy – active & veggy. Science transferred to healthy actons in the Austrian secondary school setting. Proceedings: 18. ICNM – International Conference on Nutrition in Medicine, July 25-27, 2019, Washington, D.C., USA.

Questionnaire

Pupils

To Questionnaire

8845 have been participating!

Dear pupils!

With this questionnaire, we would like to ask you about sport & physical exercise, nutrition, and health as part of the Austria-wide school study ‘From Science 2 School – Sustainably healthy: active & veggy’.
The survey is carried out anonymously. This means that nobody will know what information you have given and therefore, no conclusions can be made about you.
Please read each question carefully and answer by clicking on the box that best expresses your opinion (sometimes multiple answers are possible, sometimes you must enter a number or answer, sometimes you must rank or weigh your answer).
There are no “correct” or “incorrect” answers (there are control questions to help identify contradictory answers). Please answer all questions truthfully. Answering the questionnaire will take about 10 minutes.

Thank you for your participation!

Teachers & Principals

To Questionnaire

1350 have been participating!

Dear teachers and principals!

Thank you for your participation!

Partners

(alphabetical order)

Support

(alphabetical order)

Exercise and eating habits are key factors for good or poor health; their influence together is of crucial importance for the prevention or the development of chronic (so-called non-communicable) diseases.
If valid data can be utilized for school sports in Austria as an achievement of this research project, then it will be very important to think about and plan further improvements for the basic conditions of “health” at Austrian schools.

Oberrat VR Mag. Günther Apflauer, Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Research, Section I – General education and vocational training, Department 1/7 School and University sports, Vienna Austria

The present study can help to create a good empirical data basis in order to develop effective measures. The number of overweight and obese children and adolescents, which has been growing for years, is a cause for concern in many parts of the world - including Austria. One of the six global goals of the World Health Organization to be achieved by 2025 is that these numbers must not rise any further. This is precisely why projects that can help improve the eating and exercise behavior of children and adolescents are very important. The present study can help to create a good empirical data basis in order to develop effective measures.

Mag. Dr. Rosemarie Felder-Puig, MSc, Psychologist, health scientist, national head of the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) Studie, Gesundheit Österreich GmbH

In our society, hypertension, overweight, and diabetes are diseases in three of every four people – lifestyle factors contribute to their creation. With a healthy diet and regular exercise from childhood, these diseases and their consequences on the heart, brain, and blood vessels can usually be prevented.
This school study makes an important contribution to raising awareness of healthy eating and exercise among pupils and parents.

Priv. Doz. OÄ. Dr. Sabine Perl, President of the Austrian Society for Hypertensiology, University Clinic for Internal Medicine Graz, Department of Cardiology, Graz Austria

The development of healthy eating and physical activity behaviour in childhood has a significant influence on our long-term health. In addition to evolutionary biological aspects and general imprinting, social influences play a central role in this development process. The school setting plays a special role in this process because children can be reached regardless of their family background. As a workplace and living environment, school is a place where specific framework conditions are created and educators can have a positive effect as confidants.
A great deal can be achieved here, especially in the area of nutrition and physical activity behaviour. With this study, valuable scientific data and insights can be gained in order to design health-promoting processes in an effect-oriented way and to support committed teachers, directorates and higher-level decision-makers.

Dr. Manuel Schätzer, Nutritionist, University Lecturer, SIPCAN – Initiative für ein gesundes Leben, Special Institute for Preventive Cardiology And Nutrition

For long-term health, a shift towards an essentially plant-based diet appears to be of big importance, both for the health of the individual and for global health. Therefore, the impact of a plant-based diet on the development of healthy and chronically ill children is an important goal of one of our research foci. We are interested in sustainable behavioural change in children and adolescents in the field of nutrition and the associated positive effects on child health.
Here, there is an interface of our research in children and adolescents with the Austrian School Study, which will provide important data on lifestyle from nutritional and physical activity behaviour of the large and in future highly promising population group of schoolchildren including their teachers and headmasters. The results will make an important contribution to raising awareness of the preventive potential of lifestyle factors already in childhood and adolescence and thus to be able to promote them in a targeted way.

Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Georg J. Seifert, Working Group Integrative Medicine in Paediatrics, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Clinic for Paediatrics with a focus on Oncology and Haematology; University of São Paulo, Faculty of Medicine, Departamento de Pediatria, São Paulo, Estado de Sao Paulo, Brazil

Cardiovascular diseases together with cerebrovascular diseases were the most common causes of death for the Tyrolean population, about one of three deaths in 2018 was due to these diseases (Statistics Austria). Adjusting one’s lifestyle can prevent great suffering and enormous costs for the health system. We can sense the great potential of nutrition in the prevention of so-called non-communicable diseases. For example, when studying the Adventist Health Study II: Omnivores suffer from type 2 diabetes mellitus almost twice as often as people who eat a purely plant-based diet. Physical activity and exercise also play an important role in the prevention of fatal diseases, but also for our mental health. Therefore, preventive measures should start in childhood. Valid data is essential for this. The study “Sustainably healthy - active & veggy” can make a priceless contribution here.

Dr. med. Simon Straub, Specialist in Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, specializing in pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Innsbruck University Clinics, Tyrol Clinics, Innsbruck, Austria

Diet and exercise affect the cardiovascular system, metabolism, musculoskeletal system and much more and are undoubtedly a priority for the prevention of diseases that have become endemic today.
This also applies to the treatment of diseases, but the following still applies: “Prevention is better than reversal”. And prevention begins in the womb.
There are studies that have already shown the relationship between diet and exercise and the diseases mentioned during pregnancy. Well structured studies of childhood on this topic-complex are rare. Therefore, the study “Sustainably healthy - active & veggie” is absolutely welcome.

Dr. med. Charlotte Wagner, Specialist in Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatric Intensive Care Medicine, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Innsbruck University Clinics, Tyrol Clinics, Innsbruck, Austria

Team

Study Coordinator

Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Katharina C. Wirnitzer

is a sports scientist and lecturer in sports science and didactics at the University College of Teacher Education Tyrol. She teaches and performs research at the interface of physical activity, sports & exercise, vegetarian-vegan nutrition, and sustainable health. The transfer of scientific knowledge into practical settings, such as school and sports, is of particular concern to her.

Research projects (study coordinator, PI – principal investigator):

From Science 2 School: Sustainably healthy – active & veggy. Didactic research project surveying the prevalence of vegetarian diets linked to sports & exercise among Austrian pupils, teachers, and principals at secondary levels I and II. Follow-up to the “NURMI Study” and the didactic project “ Basic competencies: Healthy Lifestyle – Diet and Physical Exercise” to implement the transfer of scientific results into educational research in a school context. Austria-wide study, funded by TWF (Tyrolean Science Funding), supported by the BMBWF (Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research), and approved by all 9 Austrian Education directorates.
Preliminary study on “From Science 2 School: Sustainably healthy - active & veggy”.
“Basic competencies: Healthy Lifestyle – Diet and Physical Exercise” – feasibility study
NURMI Study (ISRCTN73074080), Europe’s largest running study. Interdisciplinary and international research project on the relationship between health, endurance performance etc. and kind of diet. Follow-up to “bikeeXtreme”.
bikeeXtreme. Research project on extreme endurance training in mountain bike sports lasting several days. The world’s first study on 1) mountain bike marathon, 2) a mountain bike stage race, 3) female mountain bike athletes on stage races, and 4) a purely plant based dietary tactic in multi-day endurance sports.

Affiliation:

(1) Department of Subject Didactics and Educational Research and Development, University College of Teacher Education Tyrol, Innsbruck, Austria
(2) Department of Sport Science, Leopold-Franzens University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
(3) Research enter Medical Humanties, LFUI, Innsbruck, Austria
(4) Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Working Group Prevention, Integrative Medicine and Health Promotion, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Berlin, Germany

Research Assistants

Derrick R. Tanous, PhD candidate

is a part of this school study, From Science 2 School, through his PhD dissertation at the University of Innsbruck, Department of Sports Science in Austria. He studied the European Master in Health and Physical Activity (MSc 2019) at the University of Rome Foro Italico in Italy and specialized in the area of combined cognitive and physical training and the effects on physical function for older adults.
The dual approach of the permanent connection between diet and physical activity, sport and exercise is an important didactic approach for public health. With regard to the role of prevention, it seems particularly important to him to avoid behavior that accelerates the decline of physical function. His research interest now closes the circle from older to younger population groups and his dissertation focuses on the dual-approach for health in the school context. He aims particularly at health behavior through lifestyle factors of diet linked with physical activity, sport and exercise. In his research interest he closes the circle from younger to older population groups.

Mohamad Motevalli

he obtained his Master in Sports Physiology from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran in 2013. As a researcher and lecturer in the field of sport science, he has already published several peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals. In addition, he has eight years of educational experience in elementary and secondary schools, which allows him to match his experience to this Austrian-wide didactic research project. He has recently extended his focus of scientific interest to the field of "plant-based exercise nutrition" to investigate health and performance outcomes following vegan and vegetarian diets alongside exercise, sports, and lifestyle interventions. His focus is across different populations such as children & adolescents in the school study entitled, "From Science 2 School: Sustainably healthy – active & veggy", as well as endurance runners within "The NURMI Study".

IT-Coordinator

Gerold Wirnitzer

is an IT specialist with 25 years of relevant IT experience, including 15 years in IT management positions. Since 2003, the enthusiastic mountain and cycling sportsman has dedicated part of his work to IT-technical support for science projects. He contributes his technical and IT expertise primarily in the area of new media, programming and support of survey platforms, web hosting and support of project websites, as well as advising scientists on IT security and data protection.