title: Adoption of obesity prevention policies and practices by Australian primary schools: 2006 to 2013.
abstract: Despite significant investment in many countries, the extent of schools' adoption of obesity prevention policies and practices has not been widely reported. The aims of this article are to describe Australian schools' adoption of healthy eating and physical activity policies and practices over an 8-year period and to determine if their adoption varies according to schools' size, geographic or socio-economic location. Between 2006 and 2013, a representative randomly selected cohort of primary schools (n = 476) in New South Wales, Australia, participated in four telephone interviews. Repeated measures logistic regression analyses using a Generalised Estimating Equation (GEE) framework were undertaken to assess change over time. The prevalence of all four of the healthy eating practices and one physical activity practice significantly increased, while the prevalence of one physical activity practice significantly decreased. The adoption of practices did not differ by school characteristics. Government investment can equitably enhance school adoption of some obesity prevention policies and practices on a jurisdiction-wide basis. Additional and/or different implementation strategies may be required to facilitate greater adoption of physical activity practices. Ongoing monitoring of school adoption of school policies and practices is needed to ensure the intended benefits of government investment are achieved.
authors.affiliation: Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Area Health Service, Newcastle, Locked Bag No. 10, Wallsend, NSW 2287, Australia, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia, Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW 2300, Australia Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Area Health Service, Newcastle, Locked Bag No. 10, Wallsend, NSW 2287, Australia, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia, Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW 2300, Australia Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Area Health Service, Newcastle, Locked Bag No. 10, Wallsend, NSW 2287, Australia, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia, Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW 2300, Australia Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Area Health Service, Newcastle, Locked Bag No. 10, Wallsend, NSW 2287, Australia, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia, Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW 2300, Australia Nicole.Nathan@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nathan
authors.affiliation: Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Area Health Service, Newcastle, Locked Bag No. 10, Wallsend, NSW 2287, Australia, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia, Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW 2300, Australia Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Area Health Service, Newcastle, Locked Bag No. 10, Wallsend, NSW 2287, Australia, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia, Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW 2300, Australia Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Area Health Service, Newcastle, Locked Bag No. 10, Wallsend, NSW 2287, Australia, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia, Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW 2300, Australia.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wolfenden
authors.affiliation: Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Area Health Service, Newcastle, Locked Bag No. 10, Wallsend, NSW 2287, Australia, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia, Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW 2300, Australia Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Area Health Service, Newcastle, Locked Bag No. 10, Wallsend, NSW 2287, Australia, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia, Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW 2300, Australia Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Area Health Service, Newcastle, Locked Bag No. 10, Wallsend, NSW 2287, Australia, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia, Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW 2300, Australia.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Area Health Service, Newcastle, Locked Bag No. 10, Wallsend, NSW 2287, Australia, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia, Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW 2300, Australia Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Area Health Service, Newcastle, Locked Bag No. 10, Wallsend, NSW 2287, Australia, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia, Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW 2300, Australia Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Area Health Service, Newcastle, Locked Bag No. 10, Wallsend, NSW 2287, Australia, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia, Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW 2300, Australia Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Area Health Service, Newcastle, Locked Bag No. 10, Wallsend, NSW 2287, Australia, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia, Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW 2300, Australia.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Yoong
authors.affiliation: Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Area Health Service, Newcastle, Locked Bag No. 10, Wallsend, NSW 2287, Australia, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia, Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW 2300, Australia Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Area Health Service, Newcastle, Locked Bag No. 10, Wallsend, NSW 2287, Australia, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia, Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW 2300, Australia.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lecathelinais
authors.affiliation: Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Area Health Service, Newcastle, Locked Bag No. 10, Wallsend, NSW 2287, Australia, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia, Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW 2300, Australia.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.affiliation: Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Area Health Service, Newcastle, Locked Bag No. 10, Wallsend, NSW 2287, Australia, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia, Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW 2300, Australia Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Area Health Service, Newcastle, Locked Bag No. 10, Wallsend, NSW 2287, Australia, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia, Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW 2300, Australia Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Area Health Service, Newcastle, Locked Bag No. 10, Wallsend, NSW 2287, Australia, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia, Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW 2300, Australia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wyse
authors.affiliation: Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Area Health Service, Newcastle, Locked Bag No. 10, Wallsend, NSW 2287, Australia, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia, Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW 2300, Australia Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Area Health Service, Newcastle, Locked Bag No. 10, Wallsend, NSW 2287, Australia, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia, Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW 2300, Australia Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Area Health Service, Newcastle, Locked Bag No. 10, Wallsend, NSW 2287, Australia, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia, Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW 2300, Australia Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Area Health Service, Newcastle, Locked Bag No. 10, Wallsend, NSW 2287, Australia, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia, Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW 2300, Australia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sutherland
authors.affiliation: Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Area Health Service, Newcastle, Locked Bag No. 10, Wallsend, NSW 2287, Australia, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia, Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW 2300, Australia Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Area Health Service, Newcastle, Locked Bag No. 10, Wallsend, NSW 2287, Australia, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia, Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW 2300, Australia Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Area Health Service, Newcastle, Locked Bag No. 10, Wallsend, NSW 2287, Australia, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia, Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW 2300, Australia Hunter New England Population Health, Hunter New England Area Health Service, Newcastle, Locked Bag No. 10, Wallsend, NSW 2287, Australia, School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia, Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, NSW 2300, Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wiggers
mesh_terms: D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009517:New South Wales; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012572:School Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors