Innovation Anthology #492:

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The very successful APPLE Schools program is a response to concern over rising rates of obesity among children.

APPLE Schools promote a culture of healthy eating and increased activity for students and their families.

Program leader Dr. Paul Veugelers is an Alberta Innovates Health Scholar and a researcher at the University of Alberta(Alberta Innovates Health Solutions)

DR. PAUL VEUGELERS: We selected schools to become APPLE schools, we selected schools that really needed us. So we ended up in schools in disadvantaged neighbourhoods and the first baseline measurements that we did we saw that their eating habits were way below that of the provincial average. Same with the activity levels. They were way below the provincial average. But after two years in both instances, they crossed over. So these kids are no longer disadvantaged in terms of their eating habits. They are actually better than the provincial average. And the same thing with the activity levels. They no longer are disadvantaged. They now are actually more active than the provincial average.

Dr. Veugelers says for participants at the 57 APPLE Schools across Alberta, the healthy choice becomes the easy choice.

Thanks today to Alberta Innovates Health Solutions

FOR INNOVATION ANTHOLOGY
I’M CHERYL CROUCHER

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Alberta Innovates Health Solutions

Alberta Innovates (formerly Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions)

As the newly formed Alberta Innovates corporation, we still fund top quality, internationally competitive health research and innovation activities to improve the health and wellbeing of Albertans. We provide leadership for Alberta’s health research and innovation enterprise by directing, coordinating, reviewing, funding and supporting research and innovation.

Working with our many partners  in the health system, we ensure that research achieves innovation in care, policy and practice, and that the needs of patients and clinicians influence research.

Our background

Alberta Innovates consolidation was launched November 1, 2016.

Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions

Alberta Innovates – Health Solutions was established as part of the Alberta Innovates system by an Act of Legislation of the Government of Alberta. It is a agency  of the Government of Alberta. We receive a yearly allocation from the Ministry of Health and report through the ministry to the people of Alberta.

Our Mandate and Roles document reflects our role and responsibilities and outlines the government statues and regulations with which we comply.

Alberta’s Health Research and Innovation Strategy (AHRIS) sets out Alberta’s health research agenda for the coming decade to ensure our considerable investments in research align with our priority—to improve the health of Albertans.

Program Date: 2012-08-28