Cochrane Review: Strategies to Improve the Implementation of Obesity Prevention
2016
Despite the existence of effective interventions and best-practice guideline recommendations for childcare services to implement policies, practices, and programs to promote child healthy eating, physical activity, and prevent unhealthy weight gain, many services fail to do so. The primary aim of the review was to examine the effectiveness of strategies aimed to improve the implementation of policies, practices, or programs by childcare services that promote child healthy eating, physical activity, and/or obesity prevention. The secondary aims of the review were to: (1) describe the impact of such strategies on childcare service staff knowledge, skills or attitudes; (2) describe the cost or cost-effectiveness of such strategies; (3) describe any adverse effects of such strategies on childcare services, service staff, or children; and (4) examine the effect of such strategies on child diet, physical activity, or weight status.
Ten trials were included in the review. The trials sought to improve the implementation of policies and practices targeting healthy eating (two trials), physical activity (two trials) or both healthy eating and physical activity (six trials). Collectively the implementation strategies tested in the ten trials included educational materials, educational meetings, audit and feedback, opinion leaders, small incentives or grants, educational outreach visits, or academic detailing. The review concluded that current research provides weak and inconsistent evidence of the effectiveness of such strategies in improving the implementation of policies and practices, childcare service staff knowledge or attitudes, or child diet, physical activity, or weight status.
Cochrane Review: Strategies to Improve the Implementation of Obesity Prevention
Source:
Wolfenden L, Williams J, Finch M et al. Strategies to Improve the Implementation of Healthy Eating, Physical Activity and Obesity Prevention Policies, Practices or Programmes within Childcare Services. Cochrane Database Systematic Reviews 2016; 10. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD011779.pub2