title: Policy options for obesity in Europe: a comparison of public health specialists with other stakeholders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore policy options that public health specialists (PHS) consider appropriate for combating obesity in Europe, and compare their preferences with those of other stakeholders (non-PHS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Structured interviews using multicriteria mapping, a computer-based, decision-support tool.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine European countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 189 stakeholders. Twenty-seven interviewees were PHS and non-PHS included food, sports and health sectors.
  
  
  METHODS
  A four-step approach was taken, i.e. selecting options, defining criteria, scoring options quantitatively and weighting the criteria to provide overall rankings of options. Interviews were recorded and transcribed to yield qualitative data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The PHS concur with other stakeholders interviewed, as all emphasised the importance of educational initiatives in combating obesity, followed by policies to improve community sports facilities, introduce mandatory food labelling and controlling food and drink advertising. Further analyses revealed several significant differences. The non-PHS from the private sector ranked institutional reforms favourably; the PHS from non-Mediterranean countries supported the option of medicines to prevent obesity; and those PHS from Mediterranean countries endorsed the use of activity monitoring devices such as pedometers. As far as appraisal criteria were concerned, PHS considered efficacy and the economic impact on the public sector to be the most important.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is clear consensus among PHS and other stakeholders concerning the need for a package of policy options, which suggests that European-wide implementation could be successful. However, it would be advisable to avoid more contentious policy options such as taxation until future changes in public opinion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Observatory of Public Policies and Health University of Alicante, Alicante, Spain. laurag@pijaos.udea.edu.co
authors.forename: Laura I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: González-Zapata
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Dardet
authors.forename: Rocio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ortiz-Moncada
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Clemente
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Millstone
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holdsworth
authors.forename: Katerina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sarri
authors.forename: Giulio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tarlao
authors.forename: Zoltanne
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Horvath
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lobstein
authors.forename: Savvas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Savva
mesh_terms: D000329:Advertising; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011050:Policy Making; D011634:Public Health; D011639:Public Opinion; D011640:Public Policy