title: A systematic review and meta-analysis of whole of community interventions to prevent excessive population weight gain.
abstract: Population-based, 'whole of community' interventions utilise community engagement processes and implement multiple strategies to improve the health of populations defined by geographical boundaries (i.e. cities, villages or regions). The aim of the review was to systematically assess the current state of knowledge about the effectiveness of population-based whole of community interventions in preventing excessive population weight gain. Systematic searches of electronic databases (1990-2011) and reference lists of included trials and previous reviews were conducted to identify interventions to prevent excessive weight gain. Population-based, whole of community interventions were defined as those targeting the weight status of a population characterised along geographical boundaries. The review included eight trials. All of the identified trials targeted children or adolescents. Seven trials reported a significant effect favouring the intervention on at least one measure of adiposity. Meta-analysis of six trials revealed a small reduction in BMI z-score among participants in intervention communities (mean difference (MD) -0.09; 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.16 to -0.02). The review suggests that population-based, whole of community interventions can be effective in achieving modest reductions in population weight gain among children.
authors: The University of Newcastle, Faculty of Health, School of Medicine and Public Health, Newcastle, NSW, Australia. Electronic address: luke.wolfenden@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au.
authors: Luke
authors: L
authors: Wolfenden
authors: The University of Newcastle, Faculty of Health, School of Medicine and Public Health, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
authors: Rebecca
authors: R
authors: Wyse
authors: Deakin University, WHO Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention, Faculty of Health, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
authors: Melanie
authors: M
authors: Nichols
authors: Deakin University, WHO Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention, Faculty of Health, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
authors: Steven
authors: S
authors: Allender
authors: Deakin University, WHO Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention, Faculty of Health, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
authors: Lynne
authors: L
authors: Millar
authors: The University of Newcastle, Faculty of Health, School of Medicine and Public Health, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: McElduff
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity / Q000502:physiology; D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011159:Population Surveillance; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Community; Evaluation; Meta-analysis; Obesity; Population; Prevention; Systematic review