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What do interventions aiming to prevent childhood obesity focus on?
Our analysis of the 153 interventions included in the latest Cochrane review via a #WiderDeterminantsofHealth lens.
https://rdcu.be/ce37W
w/ Carolyn Summerbell, Tamara Brown, @Russ_Jago, @tessmoor_e
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Our analysis of the 153 interventions included in the latest Cochrane review via a #WiderDeterminantsofHealth lens.
https://rdcu.be/ce37W w/ Carolyn Summerbell, Tamara Brown, @Russ_Jago, @tessmoor_e
1/6
Most interventions aimed to change individual lifestyle behaviours through education.
Even when interventions targeted living and working conditions, they often did this by training teachers to deliver educational content to children.
This trend persisted since 1993.
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Even when interventions targeted living and working conditions, they often did this by training teachers to deliver educational content to children.
This trend persisted since 1993.
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We contrast the focus of these interventions against the causes of population-level obesity
This highlighted a stark difference.
Approximately 60% of the causes reside upstream. Almost 60% of intervention efforts were focused on downstream determinants.
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This highlighted a stark difference.
Approximately 60% of the causes reside upstream. Almost 60% of intervention efforts were focused on downstream determinants.
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Most studies (n=152) were carried out in western, affluent countries.
We found that only 19 studies specifically targeted children who live in more disadvantaged areas, where the prevalence of obesity is often higher.
This may have implications for health inequality.
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We found that only 19 studies specifically targeted children who live in more disadvantaged areas, where the prevalence of obesity is often higher.
This may have implications for health inequality.
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Implications for:
Research funders – who typically prioritise high-quality RCTs
Researchers – whose research is often concerned with causation rather than attribution and complexity
Policy makers – whose policy may be informed by this skewed evidence base
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Research funders – who typically prioritise high-quality RCTs
Researchers – whose research is often concerned with causation rather than attribution and complexity
Policy makers – whose policy may be informed by this skewed evidence base
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Cochrane reviews are widely used to inform decision making.
If the focus of RCTs remains steadfast, then policy that follows may focus on individuals rather than the environments.
We believe a shift is required in the design and evaluation of obesity prevention efforts.
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If the focus of RCTs remains steadfast, then policy that follows may focus on individuals rather than the environments.
We believe a shift is required in the design and evaluation of obesity prevention efforts.
6/6
May be of interest within your networks? @EU_COCREATE @ObesitySociety @ISPAH @ISBNPA @UK_ASO @EASOobesity @ECPObesity @ADPHUK @DECIPHerCentre @PHE_obesity @LGAWellbeing @ObesityCan
