The rise of unhealthy beverage consumption, such as soft drinks, in children and youth for the last 25 years has increased the risk of low bone mass density by replacing milk (a major source of calcium intake), compromised dental health, and possibly contributed obesity. A school-based nutrition education intervention was developed to promote a change in this behavior. This study examined the effectiveness of this nutrition education program, called FUEL (Fluids Used Effectively in Living), in promoting healthy beverage consumption among high school students. The FUEL nutrition education manual consisted of six classroom sessions; it was delivered in four classes of grade nine students using different approaches, either multiple or single strategies. The nutrition intervention used multiple teaching methods which included six lessons delivered as visual, group interaction, tactile, individual, and auditory teaching styles. The multiple strategies approach was delivered through peer educators (led by a dietitian) in one class and dietitian-only in another class. In the single strategy approach, also called self-taught, two classes received only the handouts in the FUEL manual. This latter approach was considered the control to the nutrition intervention. The two classes that received either peer education or self-taught approach were in two high schools in Saskatoon. The two classes with either dietitian-taught or self-taught approaches were in a high school in Prince Albert. The beverage intake, knowledge, and attitude of students were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire before the intervention, a week after the intervention, and three months after the intervention. In Saskatoon only, a one year follow-up beverage intake assessment was performed. None of the schools in the FUEL study provided healthy beverage choices for the students. Generally, students in our study consumed an adequate amount of milk, but they drank sugary beverages daily. There was a tendency to replace milk and 100% fruit juices with sugary drinks. After the intervention, students in multiple teaching strategies decreased their sugary beverage intake significantly. The findings indicated that a school-based nutrition education with multiple teaching strategies may lead to positive knowledge, attitude and behavioural change which will have beneficial effect on long-term health.

The rise of unhealthy beverage consumption, such as soft drinks, in children and youth for the last 25 years has increased the risk of low bone mass density by replacing milk (a major source of calcium intake), compromised dental health, and possibly contributed obesity. A school-based nutrition education intervention was developed to promote a change in this behavior. This study examined the effectiveness of this nutrition education program, called FUEL (Fluids Used Effectively in Living), in promoting healthy beverage consumption among high school students. The FUEL nutrition education manual consisted of six classroom sessions; it was delivered in four classes of grade nine students using different approaches, either multiple or single strategies. The nutrition intervention used multiple teaching methods which included six lessons delivered as visual, group interaction, tactile, individual, and auditory teaching styles. The multiple strategies approach was delivered through peer educators (led by a dietitian) in one class and dietitian-only in another class. In the single strategy approach, also called self-taught, two classes received only the handouts in the FUEL manual. This latter approach was considered the control to the nutrition intervention. The two classes that received either peer education or self-taught approach were in two high schools in Saskatoon. The two classes with either dietitian-taught or self-taught approaches were in a high school in Prince Albert. The beverage intake, knowledge, and attitude of students were assessed by a self-administered questionnaire before the intervention, a week after the intervention, and three months after the intervention. In Saskatoon only, a one year follow-up beverage intake assessment was performed. None of the schools in the FUEL study provided healthy beverage choices for the students. Generally, students in our study consumed an adequate amount of milk, but they drank sugary beverages daily. There was a tendency to replace milk and 100% fruit juices with sugary drinks. After the intervention, students in multiple teaching strategies decreased their sugary beverage intake significantly. The findings indicated that a school-based nutrition education with multiple teaching strategies may lead to positive knowledge, attitude and behavioural change which will have beneficial effect on long-term health.

Animal models are crucial to improve the knowledge of the mechanisms underlying the different pathological processes. These models are also excellent tools to facilitate the research of new targets for the treatment of different diseases and to evaluate the benefit/risk ratio of the potential new treatments. We have focussed this research work in the study of a new potential targets for pain, cognitive and eating disorders using new animal models developed in our laboratory. We first investigated the effects of the interaction between cannabinoids and nicotine on cognitive processes and metabolism using different behavioural models and new experimental devices. In a second part of this work, we investigated new therapeutic targets for neuropathic pain and for this purpose we developed a new behavioural model to improve the study of the therapeutic potential and possible side-effects of novel compounds. / Los modelos animales son cruciales para mejorar el conocimiento sobre los mecanismos que constituyen la base de los diversos procesos patológicos. Estos modelos representan también excelentes herramientas para facilitar la investigación de nuevas dianas para el tratamiento de estas enfermedades y para evaluar el cociente beneficio/riesgo de los nuevos tratamientos potenciales. Este trabajo de investigación se encuentra centrado en el estudio de nuevos dianas terapéuticas para el dolor, los procesos cognitivos y los desórdenes alimentarios utilizando nuevos modelos animales desarrollados en nuestro laboratorio. En primer lugar, hemos investigado los efectos de la interacción entre los cannabinoinoides y la nicotina a nivel los procesos cognitivos y del metabolismo usando diversos modelos comportamentales y nuevos dispositivos experimentales. En una segunda parte de este trabajo, hemos estudiado nuevas dianas terapéuticas para el dolor neuropático y hemos desarrollado para este propósito un nuevo modelo comportamental que permite evaluar el potencial terapéutico y los posibles efectos secundarios de nuevos compuestos.