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Published in: Archives of Public Health 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Study protocol

Healthy together Victoria and childhood obesity—a methodology for measuring changes in childhood obesity in response to a community-based, whole of system cluster randomized control trial

Authors: Claudia Strugnell, Lynne Millar, Andrew Churchill, Felice Jacka, Colin Bell, Mary Malakellis, Boyd Swinburn, Steve Allender

Published in: Archives of Public Health | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Background

Healthy Together Victoria (HTV) - a complex ‘whole of system’ intervention, including an embedded cluster randomized control trial, to reduce chronic disease by addressing risk factors (physical inactivity, poor diet quality, smoking and harmful alcohol use) among children and adults in selected communities in Victoria, Australia (Healthy Together Communities).

Objectives

To describe the methodology for: 1) assessing changes in the prevalence of measured childhood obesity and associated risks between primary and secondary school students in HTV communities, compared with comparison communities; and 2) assessing community-level system changes that influence childhood obesity in HTC and comparison communities.

Methods

Twenty-four geographically bounded areas were randomized to either prevention or comparison (2012). A repeat cross-sectional study utilising opt-out consent will collect objectively measured height, weight, waist and self-reported behavioral data among primary [Grade 4 (aged 9-10y) and Grade 6 (aged 11-12y)] and secondary [Grade 8 (aged 13-14y) and Grade 10 (aged 15-16y)] school students (2014 to 2018). Relationships between measured childhood obesity and system causes, as defined in the Foresight obesity systems map, will be assessed using a range of routine and customised data.

Conclusion

This research methodology describes the beginnings of a state-wide childhood obesity monitoring system that can evolve to regularly inform progress on reducing obesity, and situate these changes in the context of broader community-level system change.
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Metadata
Title
Healthy together Victoria and childhood obesity—a methodology for measuring changes in childhood obesity in response to a community-based, whole of system cluster randomized control trial
Authors
Claudia Strugnell
Lynne Millar
Andrew Churchill
Felice Jacka
Colin Bell
Mary Malakellis
Boyd Swinburn
Steve Allender
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Archives of Public Health / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 2049-3258
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-016-0127-y

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