0
0
A community-based intervention aimed at curbing childhood obesity has shown promising results, with a recent study revealing significant improvements in health-related quality of life and a reduction in obesity rates. The findings, published in Public Health, come from the three-year evaluation of the Reflexive Evidence and Systems Interventions to Prevent Obesity and Non-communicable Disease (RESPOND) randomized trial.
Addressing Childhood Obesity
Childhood obesity is a growing global concern, linked to various non-communicable diseases and long-term health issues. Factors such as early exposure to unhealthy foods, food availability, and socioeconomic status often make it difficult to address effectively. Existing research suggests that multi-level, community-wide interventions hold potential for reducing obesity in children by targeting a range of influencing factors.
The RESPOND trial, led by scientists at Deakin University, explored the impact of a systems-based approach, using systems thinking to train community health workers and empower local areas to tackle obesity and related diseases. By involving local communities, the study aimed to create sustainable, scalable interventions for childhood obesity prevention.
Study Design and Methods
The four-year trial involved 10 local government areas in northeast Victoria, Australia, with the intervention being rolled out in two stages. The first stage began in July 2019, while the second was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Data was collected at baseline between March and June 2019, and follow-up data was planned for 2021 and 2023.
Despite pandemic-related delays, researchers were able to compare the outcomes of communities that implemented the intervention (intervention communities) with those that did not (control communities) over a three-year period, from 2019 to 2022.
The study analyzed data from 31 primary schools and focused on key outcomes such as body mass index (BMI), health-related quality of life, and self-reported health behaviors including physical activity, screen time, and food consumption.
Key Findings
The results showed a small but significant reduction in BMI z-scores and the percentage of children classified as overweight or obese in intervention communities, compared to a slight increase in BMI in control communities over the same period. Notably, the intervention had a positive impact on daily water consumption among boys, although it did not show significant effects on other behaviors like physical activity, screen time, or takeaway food consumption.
Health-related quality of life generally declined for children across all communities, likely due to the challenges posed by the pandemic. However, boys in intervention communities reported a significant improvement in both overall quality of life and psychosocial health.
Gender Differences and Pandemic Impact
The study also highlighted gender differences in intervention outcomes. While boys in the intervention communities showed marked improvements in quality of life and psychosocial health, these effects were not observed in girls. The researchers suggest that further investigation is needed to understand these gender differences and refine future interventions.
The study also noted a general decline in several obesity-related behaviors, such as active transport to school and consumption of sweetened drinks, among both boys and girls. The researchers attribute this in part to the disruptions caused by the pandemic, which may have altered children’s routines and behaviors.
Conclusion and Implications
The RESPOND trial’s findings suggest that community-led, systems-based interventions can have a positive, albeit limited, impact on childhood obesity and health outcomes. By empowering local communities to address obesity risk factors using systems thinking, the intervention provided a valuable model for sustainable health improvements.
Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the trial demonstrates that community engagement and capacity building are key components of successful interventions. The study’s authors advocate for continued investment in training community health workers and applying systems thinking to childhood obesity prevention, especially in light of the pandemic’s ongoing effects.
This research adds to the growing body of evidence supporting the need for innovative, community-driven approaches to tackling childhood obesity, a major public health issue with long-term implications for global health.
Reference:
Allender S. 2024. “Three-year behavioral, health-related quality of life, and body mass index outcomes from the RESPOND randomized trial.” Public Health. Link to article.
