title: Mobilising a rural community to lose weight: impact evaluation of the WellingTonne Challenge.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the impact of the WellingTonne Challenge.
  
  
  METHODS
  Before-after study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The National Action Agenda for the prevention and control of obesity in Australia identified community action and development as a key theme. The WellingTonne Challenge was a whole-of-community project designed to support a small rural community to lose weight and reduce their risk of chronic disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult residents of the Wellington Local Government Area who were overweight or obese.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The project successfully engaged the community with around 10% of the target group formally participating in the Challenge. Participants achieved a weight reduction of around 3 kg each, as well as positive changes in diet and physical activity. A total of 59% of those who signed up for the Challenge achieved an accumulated loss of 687 kg at the end of the 12-week program--less than the community goal of 1000 kg.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The WellingTonne Challenge is a promising intervention. Wider implementation of this approach in other small rural communities might make a significant contribution to the national effort. The opportunity should be taken to undertake a more rigorous evaluation to determine whether this approach benefits communities in the longer term.
authors.affiliation: Broken Hill University Department of Rural Health, Faculty of Medicine The University of Sydney, Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia. dlyle@gwahs.health.nsw.gov.au
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lyle
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hobba
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lloyd
authors.forename: Debbie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: Trish
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Nicolla
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Giddings
authors.forename: Norma
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Griffin
authors.forename: Patrick C L
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Chew
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Gaynor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Heading
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015431:Weight Loss