ABSTRACT The Health Promoting Schools (HPS) are actively committed to enhancing healthy lifestyles. Nevertheless, the evidence currently available regarding the role of the HPS accreditation status in a HPS network on students' health outcomes is uneven. The aim of this study was to compare different health behaviours of students enrolled in health promoting (HPS) and non‐health promoting schools (NHPS). This is a comparative cross‐sectional study. Validated instruments were used to measure dietary habits, physical activity, screen time‐based sedentary behaviours, and tobacco and alcohol consumption. Sleep time was also collected. A total of 840 students aged between 12 and 17 years participated in the study. In comparison with students enrolled in Non‐Health Promoting Schools, HPS students showed healthier levels in dietary habits, physical activity, screen time‐based sedentary behaviours, sleep duration, and alcohol consumption. No differences were found for tobacco consumption. Our findings suggest that the integration of schools into a HPS network could play a role in the adoption of better health behaviours among students. Further research is needed to analyse: a) the accreditation and evaluation procedures in the HPS networks, b) the degree of implementation of the HPSF in the HPS, and c) the effectiveness of HPS actions in promoting positive health outcomes in the long term.
Bermejo‐Martínez et al. (Tue,) studied this question.
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