An analysis of current obesity strategies for adolescents in NSW against best practice recommendations: Implications for researchers, policymakers and practitioners

Abstract

Issue addressed Obesity is a significant health challenge facing adolescents. There is a critical need for government action to support all adolescents to improve risk factors for obesity. This study critically appraised initiatives, guidelines and policies (termed “strategies”) from local health districts (LHDs), speciality health networks and Primary Health Networks (PHNs) across New South Wales (NSW), relevant to the prevention and management of obesity amongst adolescents and compare these to best practice recommendations. Methods We critically appraised strategies against best practice recommendations that included support, access, responsiveness to needs, supportive environment, monitoring and evaluation and health equity. Strategies were collected by systematically searching websites of 15 LHDs, one speciality health network and 10 PHNs. Results There was evidence of strategies regarding adolescent obesity prevention and management across all best practice recommendations. There was limited evidence of adolescent consumer participation, digital strategies for health services and online health information. There were minimal targeted public or school‐based education campaigns and interventions on physical activity or nutrition. Place‐based approaches such as sports and recreation facilities were not included in policies regarding the sale of healthy food and drinks. Evaluation evidence across all strategies was minimal. Conclusions Numerous strategies are being implemented across NSW to address adolescent obesity. Despite this, the alignment of strategies with best practice recommendations is poor and evidence of progress in tackling adolescent obesity remains unclear. So what? Opportunities to generate and translate best practice evidence within government strategies for obesity must be prioritised with embedded measurement and evaluation plans.

A healthy lifestyle text message intervention for adolescents: protocol for the Health4Me randomized controlled trial

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Recruitment of adolescents to virtual clinical trials: experiences from the Health4Me clinical trial (Preprint)

“…In the Health4Me Study we recruited a national sample and participants self-referred into the study. In addition, there are limited prevention programs currently available for adolescents [34] and the intervention and all advertising materials were co-designed with adolescents [26]. We employed a small day-to-day research team who communicated regularly through detailed screening and recruitment logs, and participants were reimbursed through online gift vouchers after completing all study activities at baseline and 6-month follow-up.…”