Strengthening Capacity on Overweight and Obesity Prevention in 34 High Schools in Da Nang

The alarming rise of school-based overweight and obesity, particularly in urban areas, is becoming a major public health challenge affecting young people. This trend calls for urgent action to strengthen schools’ capacity in nutrition management and behavior change communication, ensuring sustainable improvements in student health and well-being.

On April 2–3, 2026, the Da Nang Center for Disease Control (CDC) organized a capacity-building training on overweight and obesity prevention for school leaders and health staff from 34 school leaders and 34 health staff from 34 high schools across the city (prior to administrative merger).

The activity is part of the Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) and the Healthy Cities for Adolescents (HCA-II) in Da Nang for the 2023–2026 period, funded by Fondation Botnar and managed by Ecorys. UNICEF Viet Nam, in collaboration with the Da Nang CDC, organized this training to support the promotion of healthy school models and the holistic development of students.

Key Objectives of the Training Program on Overweight and Obesity Prevention

The program is designed around two main objectives, closely aligned with the practical needs of schools:

1. Strengthening knowledge and intervention models

• Provide foundational knowledge on overweight and obesity among students
• Introduce effective school-based intervention models
• Guide the integration of nutrition activities into school management

2. Enhancing professional skills for school health staff

• Analyze and assess students’ nutritional status
• Manage school health data
• Implement behavior change communication on nutrition and healthy lifestyles

Post-Training On-site Technical Support

Immediately following the training, in April 2026, technical experts from the Nutrition Department of Da Nang CDC will provide hands-on, on-site support for 34 schools using a practical coaching approach to:

• Standardize procedures for assessing students’ nutritional status
• Guide the use of health education and communication materials
• Strengthen capacity to implement overweight and obesity prevention activities in schools

At the same time, the program will conduct a rapid assessment to collect data on the current status of school nutrition practices, serving as a basis for policy improvement and model scale-up.

Scaling Up School-Based Obesity Prevention in Da Nang

With the support of UNICEF Viet Nam, these activities not only contribute to controlling overweight and obesity among students but also lay a strong foundation for nurturing a healthier, more active, and resilient generation. By strengthening school capacity, enhancing the role of school health staff, and promoting evidence-based nutrition and lifestyle interventions, the program helps create supportive environments where healthy choices become part of students’ daily lives.

Beyond immediate impacts, the initiative fosters long-term behavioral change by equipping adolescents with the knowledge and skills to maintain balanced diets and active lifestyles. It also reinforces collaboration between schools, health authorities, and communities, ensuring that school-based interventions are sustainable and scalable across the city.

This marks a significant step toward building a Healthy City for Adolescents in Da Nang—one where every young person is empowered to thrive, achieving holistic physical, mental, and social well-being, and contributing to a more inclusive, sustainable urban future.