title: Population segmentation: an approach to reducing childhood obesity inequalities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study are threefold: (1) to investigate the relationship between socio-economic status (inequality) and childhood obesity prevalence within Birmingham local authority, (2) to identify any change in childhood obesity prevalence between deprivation quintiles and (3) to analyse individualised Birmingham National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) data using a population segmentation tool to better inform obesity prevention strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from the NCMP for Birmingham (2010/2011 and 2014/2015) were analysed using the deprivation scores from the Income Domain Affecting Children Index (IDACI 2010). The percentage of children with excess weight was calculated for each local deprivation quintile. Population segmentation was carried out using the Experian's Mosaic Public Sector 6 (MPS6) segmentation tool.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Childhood obesity levels have remained static at the national and Birmingham level. For Year 6 pupils, obesity levels have increased in the most deprived deprivation quintiles for boys and girls. The most affluent quintile shows a decreasing trend of obesity prevalence for boys and girls in both year groups. For the middle quintiles, the results show fluctuating trends.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This research highlighted the link in Birmingham between obesity and socio-economic factors with the gap increasing between deprivation quintiles. Obesity is a complex problem that cannot simply be addressed through targeting most deprived populations, rather through a range of effective interventions tailored for the various population segments that reside within communities. Using population segmentation enables a more nuanced understanding of the potential barriers and levers within populations on their readiness for change. The segmentation of childhood obesity data will allow utilisation of social marketing methodology that will facilitate identification of suitable methods for interventions and motivate individuals to sustain behavioural change. Sequentially, it will also inform policy makers to commission the most appropriate interventions.
authors.affiliation: Service Manager - Public Health Intelligence, Public Health, Birmingham City Council, Birmingham, UK.|Honorary Lecturer Public Health Staffordshire University.
authors.forename: Hashum
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mahmood
authors.affiliation: Service Manager - Public Health Intelligence, Public Health, Birmingham City Council, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lowe
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: National Child Measurement Programme; childhood obesity; deprivation; health inequalities; segmentation; social marketing