A snapshot of the scope of obesity prevention practice in Australia

Abstract

Community-based initiatives (CBIs) that build capacity and promote healthy environments hold promise for preventing obesity and non-communicable disease, however their characteristics remain poorly understood and lessons are learned in isolation. This limits understanding of likely effectiveness of CBIs; the potential for actively supporting practice; and the translation of community-based knowledge into policy. Building on an initial survey (2010), an online survey was launched (2013) with the aim to describe the reach and characteristics of Australian CBIs and identify and evaluate elements known to contribute to best practice, effectiveness and sustainability. Responses from 104 CBIs were received in 2013. Geographic location generally reflected population density in Australia. Duration of CBIs was short-term (median 3 years; range 0.2–21.0 years), delivered mostly by health departments and local governments. Median annual funding had more than doubled since the 2010 survey, but average staffing had not increased. CBIs used at least two strategy types, with a preference for individual behaviour change strategies. Targeting children was less common (31%) compared with the 2010 survey (57%). Logic models and theory were used in planning, but there was low use of research evidence and existing prevention frameworks. Nearly, all CBIs had an evaluation component (12% of budget), but dissemination was limited. This survey provides information on the scope and varied quality of the current obesity prevention investment in Australia. To boost the quality and effectiveness of CBIs, further support systems may be required to ensure that organizations adopt upstream, evidence-informed approaches; and integrate CBIs into systems, policies and environments.

Feasibility of a novel participatory multi-sector continuous improvement approach to enhance food security in remote Indigenous Australian communities

“…We are aware of no other initiatives that have taken a long-term whole of system community-level approach to improving the food environment and food security. The GFS approach builds on frameworks already available for priority setting of actions for obesity prevention and/or food security in communities such as the Analysis Grid for Environments Linked to Obesity (ANGELO framework) ( Swinburn et al, 2005 , Simmons et al, 2009 , Wood et al, 2010 ) and offers a structured process that potentially could be modified to support organisations in any context to adopt upstream, evidence-informed strategies; and to facilitate nutrition integration into everyday practices, policies and environments; a process that has been shown to be lacking at least in Australia but critical for prevention of obesity and non-communicable disease ( Pettman et al, 2016 , Nichols et al, 2013 ). Uptake of a multi-sector participatory continuous improvement approach with communities in remote Australia may help to achieve an integrated approach to food security to effect positive change and lead to sustained improvement in health.…”

“…However evidence is lacking on the actual processes that might be undertaken to achieve and sustain such a desired multi-faceted and coordinated approach and particularly lacking on one where Indigenous people are central to decision-making ( Whelan et al, 2015 ). Multi-sector collaborations are difficult to establish and sustain in any setting ( Whelan et al, 2015 , Pettman et al, 2016 , Kreuter et al, 2000 ).…”

Social network analysis of stakeholder networks from two community-based obesity prevention interventions

“…Common to the design and implementation of a number of obesity prevention CBIs has been a core community or stakeholder group [ 3 ]. These leadership groups (known by many names but often as a ‘steering committee’ (SC)) comprise stakeholders from diverse organizations and sectors, who collaborate to design and implement interventions [ 4 ].…”

Impact of health risk factors on healthcare resource utilization, work-related outcomes and health-related quality of life of Australians: a population-based longitudinal data analysis

“…The contour of Australia's population health is transforming, characterized by increased longevity and a growing demand for healthcare (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7). Concurrently, the prevalence of many chronic diseases and their associated risk factors is on the rise (8,9).…”