A snapshot of the scope of obesity prevention practice in Australia.
Community-based initiatives (CBIs) that build capacity and promote healthy environments hold promise for preventing obesity and non-communicable disease, however their characteristics remain poorly understood and lessons are learned in isolation. This limits understanding of likely effectiveness of CBIs; the potential for actively supporting practice; and the translation of community-based knowledge into policy. Building on an initial survey (2010), an online survey was launched (2013) with the aim to describe the reach and characteristics of Australian CBIs and identify and evaluate elements known to contribute to best practice, effectiveness and sustainability. Responses from 104 CBIs were received in 2013. Geographic location generally reflected population density in Australia. Duration of CBIs was short-term (median 3 years; range 0.2-21.0 years), delivered mostly by health departments and local governments. Median annual funding had more than doubled since the 2010 survey, but average staffing had not increased. CBIs used at least two strategy types, with a preference for individual behaviour change strategies. Targeting children was less common (31%) compared with the 2010 survey (57%). Logic models and theory were used in planning, but there was low use of research evidence and existing prevention frameworks. Nearly, all CBIs had an evaluation component (12% of budget), but dissemination was limited. This survey provides information on the scope and varied quality of the current obesity prevention investment in Australia. To boost the quality and effectiveness of CBIs, further support systems may be required to ensure that organizations adopt upstream, evidence-informed approaches; and integrate CBIs into systems, policies and environments.
School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Tahna
T
Pettman
Population Health Strategic Research Centre, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
Kristy
K
Bolton
Population Health Strategic Research Centre, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia penny.love@deakin.edu.au.
Penny
P
Love
School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Elizabeth
E
Waters
Boden Institute of Obesity, Nutrition, Exercise and Eating Disorders, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Tim
T
Gill
Population Health Strategic Research Centre, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
Jill
J
Whelan
Boden Institute of Obesity, Nutrition, Exercise and Eating Disorders, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Sinead
S
Boylan
School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Rebecca
R
Armstrong
School of Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
John
J
Coveney
School of Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Sue
S
Booth
School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
Boyd
B
Swinburn
Population Health Strategic Research Centre, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
Steven
S
Allender
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000379:methods; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055815:Young Adult
Australia; community-based; obesity; prevention