title: Cost-effectiveness of a school-based obesity prevention program.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A school-based obesity prevention study (Medical College of Georgia FitKid Project) started in the fall of 2003 in 18 elementary schools. Half of the schools were randomized to an after-school program that included moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, healthy snacks, homework assistance, and academic enrichment. All third graders were invited to enroll. The objective of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness (CE) of the first-year intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Standard CE analysis methods and a societal perspective were used. Program delivery costs incurred during the first-year intervention and the usual after-school care costs that would occur in the absence of the intervention were estimated (in 2003 dollars). Net intervention costs were calculated by subtracting the usual after-school care costs from the intervention costs. The effectiveness of the intervention was measured as percent body fat (%BF) reduction compared with a control condition. The CE was assessed as the net intervention cost divided by the effectiveness of the intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intervention costs totaled $174,070, $558/student, or $956/student who attended > or = 40% of the intervention sessions. The usual after-school care costs were estimated at $639/student. Students who attended > or = 40% of the intervention reduced %BF by 0.76% (95% confidence interval: -1.42 to -0.09) at an additional cost of $317/student.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Subjects who attended > or = 40% of the intervention achieved a significant reduction in %BF at a relatively low cost. School-based obesity prevention programs of this type are likely to be a cost-effective use of public funds and warrant careful consideration by policy makers and program planners.
authors.affiliation: Division of Adolescent and School Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. lgw0@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Li Yan
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gutin
authors.forename: Paule
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barbeau
authors.forename: Justin B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hanes
authors.forename: Maribeth H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Marlo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cavnar
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thornburg
authors.forename: Zenong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yin
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue; D002648:Child; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012574:Schools / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*