The equitable reach of a universal, multisector childhood obesity prevention program (Live Life Well @ School) in Australian primary schools

Bravo, Andrea; Foley, Bridget C.; Innes‐Hughes, Christine; O’Hara, Blythe J; McGill, Bronwyn; Rissel, Chris

doi:10.17061/phrp3012003

Cited by 13 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Live Life Well @ School is a flagship government primary school physical activity program operating since 2008 with a focus on FMS,[45] yet indicators of children’s physical activity and FMS continue at sub-optimal levels. Our findings reflect the D- awarded to Australia by the Active Health Kids Global Alliance, with Australian children’s participation in physical activity rated 32 nd out of 43 countries internationally.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cross-sectional changes in weight status and weight related behaviors among Australian children and Australian Indigenous children between 2010 and 2015

et al. 2019

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Background Since 2006 there has been substantial long-term investment in school-based child obesity prevention programs in New South Wales (Australia). Whether these programs have led to population level improvements in children’s weight status and weight-related behaviors are yet to be determined. The purpose of this study was to describe changes in children’s weight status and weight-related behaviors, including Indigenous children, who are at greater risk of poorer health outcomes than non-Indigenous children. Methods Representative cross-sectional population surveys conducted in 2010 and 2015 among children age 5–16 years (n = 15,613). Objective measurements included height, weight, waist circumference, cardiorespiratory fitness, and fundamental movement skills. Indigenous status and indicators of weight-related behavior (i.e., diet, physical activity, school travel, screen-time) were measured by questionnaire with parents responding for children age <10 years and self-report by children age ≥10 years. Results The prevalences of overweight/obesity, obesity and abdominal obesity were higher in 2015, than 2010, and higher among Indigenous than non-Indigenous children at both timepoints. There were some small positive changes towards healthier weight-related behaviors between surveys among all children, but many unhealthy weight-related behaviors remain highly prevalent. The magnitude of changes and the 2015 prevalences of weight-related behaviors were generally similar for Indigenous and non-Indigenous children. Conclusions Schools play an important role in health promotion, but our findings suggest the current approaches need re-thinking. Upstream factors that shape weight-related behaviors such as the regulation of the food industry and food environment, urban, neighborhood and public transport planning must be including in solutions to ensure populations can eat healthily and be physical active.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cross-sectional changes in weight status and weight related behaviors among Australian children and Australian Indigenous children between 2010 and 2015

et al. 2019

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“…The Live Life Well @ School (LLWatS) program is an important component of the NSW Government’s response to the prevention of childhood obesity. It is a key program that was established in 2008 [32], contributing to the NSW Premier’s Priority to reduce overweight and obesity rates of children by 5% over 10 years [12]. LLWatS is a joint initiative between the NSW Ministry of Health and the NSW Department of Education, in consultation with Catholic Schools NSW and the Association of Independent Schools of NSW [57].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Campbelltown – Changing our Future: study protocol for a whole of system approach to childhood obesity in South Western Sydney

et al. 2019

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BackgroundIn Australia, around 67% of adults and 25% of children (5–17 years) are currently overweight or obese (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 4364.0.55.001 - National Health Survey: First Results, 2017–18, 2018). The Campbelltown – Changing our Future study will translate ‘a whole of system’ approach, previously trialed in rural communities in Victoria and the Australian Capital Territoty, to Campbelltown Local Government Area (LGA), a socioeconomically and ethnically diverse urban community in south western Sydney, NSW.MethodsThe study intervention will use a five-step approach; 1 – set up a childhood obesity monitoring system by collecting baseline data from children in primary schools across Campbelltown LGA to give a local context to the community when developing the systems map; 2 - key stakeholders develop systems maps which inform the development of the interventions; 3 - key stakeholders and community groups identify priority areas for action and form working groups; 4 - implementation of the interventions; 5 - evaluation of the interventions. The study will adopt a longitudinal pre/post design with repeated measures at baseline, 2 years and 4 years. Both qualitative and quantitative methods will be used to collect and analyse the data.DiscussionAddressing childhood overweight and obesity is complex and requires a multifaceted intervention. This approach has the capacity to impact a range of factors that influence childhood overweight and obesity utilising existing capacity of multiple partners with broad community reach. Findings will develop local responses which capture the complexity of obesity at a community level and further our understanding of the interrelationships and relative importance of local factors impacting childhood overweight and obesity. This study aims to provide evidence for systems methods and approaches suitable for adaption and scaling and may provide evidence of successful community intervention elements.

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“…Statewide programs were then developed for the early childhood sector to help communicate to parents on healthy eating and physical activity [ 16 ]. The delivery of fundamental movement skills (FMS) programs in primary schools [ 17 ] to address children’s low proficiency in FMS [ 18 , 19 ] is included in the NSW school curriculum. The low prevalence of meeting physical activity recommends has been addressed through a universal voucher program (i.e., ActiveKids) to increase children’s participation in organised sports [ 20 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The low prevalence of meeting physical activity recommends has been addressed through a universal voucher program (i.e., ActiveKids) to increase children’s participation in organised sports [ 20 ]. Fruit and vegetable breaks were implemented in primary schools to address children’s low consumption of these foods [ 17 ]. In 2015, SPANS showed that children who purchased food regularly from the school canteen were more likely to have overweight or obesity [ 21 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Elements of Effective Population Surveillance Systems for Monitoring Obesity in School Aged Children

Hardy

Mihrshahi

2020

IJERPH

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The continuing high prevalence of child overweight and obesity globally means that it remains the most common chronic health condition in children. Population-based child obesity surveillance systems are critical for monitoring trends in obesity and related behaviours, and determining the overall effect of child obesity prevention strategies. Effective surveillance systems may vary in methods, scope, purpose, objectives, and attributes, and our aim was to provide an overview of child obesity surveillance systems globally, and to highlight main components and other types of survey data that can enhance our understanding of child obesity. Measures of adiposity, including body mass index and waist circumference are essential, but effective surveillance must also include measures of weight-related behaviours, including diet, physical activity, sedentary time, and sleep. While objective measures are desirable, the variability in psychometrics and rapid evolution of wearable devices is potentially problematic for examining long-term trends over time and how behaviours may change. Questionnaires on self-reported behaviours are often used but also have limitations. Because the determinants of obesity are not only functioning at the individual level, some measures of the broader environmental and commercial determinants, including the built and food environments, are useful to guide upstream policy decisions.

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The equitable reach of a universal, multisector childhood obesity prevention program (Live Life Well @ School) in Australian primary schools

Cited by 13 publications

References 4 publications

Cross-sectional changes in weight status and weight related behaviors among Australian children and Australian Indigenous children between 2010 and 2015

Cross-sectional changes in weight status and weight related behaviors among Australian children and Australian Indigenous children between 2010 and 2015

Campbelltown – Changing our Future: study protocol for a whole of system approach to childhood obesity in South Western Sydney

Elements of Effective Population Surveillance Systems for Monitoring Obesity in School Aged Children

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