The "Fruit Heroes" project, developed by the Institute of Environmental Health of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon (ISAMB/FMUL) in partnership with the Portuguese Association Against Childhood Obesity (APCOI), obtained significant results in the Castelo Branco district during the 2024/2025 school year. In schools in the municipalities of Castelo Branco and Covilhã, the proportion of students who consume at least one portion of fruit or vegetables per day at school rose from 93.5% to 98.8%, almost reaching the total number of participants.
The study showed that the rate of students who fully complete the project's food challenge grew from 78.2% to 92.6% after five weeks, while the percentage of students with healthy daily snacks increased from 68.0% to 84.0%. Mário Silva, president of APCOI, highlighted that the method, which is completely free, transforms children's eating habits in just five weeks and represents a direct impact on child health.
The results were presented in September at the 1st Fruit Heroes Conference, in Lisbon, an event that celebrated 15 years of APCOI's work in promoting healthy eating habits and preventing childhood obesity in Portugal. The meeting brought together municipalities, parish councils, and specialists from the fields of health, nutrition, and education to discuss the role of local authorities and the school community in public policies for child health.
APCOI, founded in 2010, is a non-governmental, non-profit organization dedicated to combating childhood obesity, considered the most prevalent chronic disease in pediatric age. The association invites teachers and educational institutions from across the country to register their classes by October 31st through the website heroisdafruta.com, ensuring that more children have the opportunity to develop more balanced and healthy food choices.
