Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

School- and Community-Based Interventions for Childhood Obesity

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Pediatric Obesity

Part of the book series: Contemporary Endocrinology ((COE))

Abstract

For decades, school-based programs have constituted the primary approach for addressing the childhood obesity epidemic at the population level. School programs have the potential to reach many children and affect many factors in the causal path to obesity (i.e., diet, physical activity, knowledge, and other psychosocial factors); in theory, they have great promise for long-term sustainability through institutionalization of intervention components.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Caballero B. Obesity prevention in children: opportunities and challenges. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2004;28:S90–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Budd GM, Volpe SL. School-based obesity prevention: research, challenges, and recommendations. J Sch Health. 2006;76(10):485–95.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Brown T, Summerbell C. Systematic review of school-based interventions that focus on changing dietary intake and physical activity levels to prevent childhood obesity: an update to the obesity guidance produced by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Obes Rev. 2009;10(1):110–41.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Shaya FT, Flores D, Gbarayor CM, Wang J. School-based obesity interventions: a literature review. J Sch Health. 2008;78(4):189–96.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Teufel NI, Ritenbaugh CK. Development of a primary prevention program: insight gained in the Zuni diabetes prevention program. Clin Pediatr. 1998;37(2):131–41.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Webber LS, Catellier DJ, Lytle LA, et al. Promoting physical activity in middle school girls: trial of activity for adolescent girls. Am J Prev Med. 2008;34(3):173–84.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Gittelsohn J, Kumar MB. Preventing childhood obesity and diabetes: is it time to move out of the school? Pediatr Diabetes. 2007;8(s9):55–69.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Thomas H. Obesity prevention programs for children and youth: why are their results so modest? Health Educ Res. 2006;21(6):783–95.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Lytle LA. School-based interventions: where do we go next? Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2009;163(4):388–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Arcan C, Neumark-Sztainer D, Hannan P. Parental eating behaviours, home food environment and adolescent intakes of fruits, vegetables and dairy foods: longitudinal findings from project EAT. Public Health Nutr. 2007;10(11):1257–65.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Caballero B, Clay T, Davis SM, et al. Pathways: a school-based, randomized controlled trial for the prevention of obesity in American Indian schoolchildren. Am J Clin Nutr. 2003;78(5):1030–8.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Edmundson E, Parcel GS, Feldman HA, et al. The effects of the child and adolescent trial for cardiovascular health upon psychosocial determinants of diet and physical activity behavior. Prev Med. 1996;25(4):442–54.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Macaulay AC, Paradis G, Potvin L, et al. The Kahnawake schools diabetes prevention project: intervention, evaluation, and baseline results of a diabetes primary prevention program with a native community in Canada. Prev Med. 1997;26(6):779–90.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Ayala GX, Elder JP, Campbell NR, et al. Longitudinal intervention effects on parenting of the Aventuras para Niños study. Am J Prev Med. 2010;38(2):154–62.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Foster GD, Sherman S, Borradaile KE, et al. A policy-based school intervention to prevent overweight and obesity. Pediatrics. 2008;121(4):e794–802.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Eisenmann JC, Gentile DA, Welk GJ, et al. SWITCH: rationale, design, and implementation of a community, school, and family-based intervention to modify behaviors related to childhood obesity. BMC Public Health. 2008;29(8):223.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Romon M, Lommez A, Tafflet M, et al. Downward trends in the prevalence of childhood overweight in the setting of 12-year school- and community-based programmes. Public Health Nutr. 2009;12(10):1735–42.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Pigeot I, Baranowski T, De Henauw S, IDEFICS Intervention Study Group, IDEFICS Consortium. The IDEFICS intervention trial to prevent childhood obesity: design and study methods. De Henauw S, Baranowski T, Pigeot I, eds. Obes Rev. 2015;16 Suppl 2(S2):4–15.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. De Henauw S, Huybrechts I, De Bourdeaudhuij I, et al. Effects of a community-oriented obesity prevention programme on indicators of body fatness in preschool and primary school children. Main results from the IDEFICS study. De Henauw S, Baranowski T, Pigeot I, eds. Obes Rev. 2015;16 Suppl 2(S2):16–29.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Hoelscher DM, Springer AE, Ranjit N, et al. Reductions in child obesity among disadvantaged school children with community involvement: the Travis County CATCH Trial. Obesity. 2010;18 Suppl 1(S1):S36–44.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Kremer P, Waqa G, Vanualailai N, et al. Reducing unhealthy weight gain in Fijian adolescents: results of the Healthy Youth Healthy Communities study. Obes Rev. 2011;12(s2):29–40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. The Pacific Obesity Prevention in Communities project: project overview and methods. Obes Rev. 2011;12 Suppl 2:3–11.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Schultz J, Utter J, Mathews L, Cama T, Mavoa H. The Pacific OPIC project (obesity prevention in communities): action plans and interventions. Pac Health Dialog. 2007;14(2):147–53.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Swinburn B, Pryor J, McCabe M, Carter R. The Pacific OPIC project (obesity prevention in communities)-objectives and designs. Pac Health Dialog. 2007;14(2):139–46.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Paradis G, Lévesque L, Macaulay AC, et al. Impact of a diabetes prevention program on body size, physical activity, and diet among Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) children 6 to 11 years old: 8-year results from the Kahnawake schools diabetes prevention project. Pediatrics. 2005;115(2):333–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Pettman T, Magarey A, Mastersson N, Wilson A, Dollman J. Improving weight status in childhood: results from the eat well be active community programs. Int J Public Health. 2014;59(1):43–50.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Fotu KF, Millar L, Mavoa H, et al. Outcome results for the Ma'alahi Youth Project, a Tongan community-based obesity prevention programme for adolescents. Obes Rev. 2011;12(s2):41–50.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Perman JA, Young TL, Stines E, Hamon J, Turner LM, Rowe MGA. Community-driven obesity prevention and intervention in an elementary school. J Ky Med Assoc. 2008;106(3):104–8.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Sanigorski AM, Bell AC, Kremer PJ, Cuttler R, Swinburn BA. Reducing unhealthy weight gain in children through community capacity-building: results of a quasi-experimental intervention program, Be Active Eat Well. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2008;32(7):1060–7.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Gentile DA, Welk G, Eisenmann JC, et al. Evaluation of a multiple ecological level child obesity prevention program: switch®what you do, view, and chew. BMC Med. 2009;7(1):6–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Gittelsohn J, Steckler A, Johnson CC, et al. Formative research in school and community-based health programs and studies: “State of the Art” and the TAAG approach. Health Educ Behav. 2006;33(1):25–39.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  32. Moe SG, Pickrel J, McKenzie TL, Strikmiller PK, Coombs D, Murrie D. Using school-level interviews to develop a multisite PE intervention program. Health Educ Behav. 2006;33(1):52–65.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  33. Saunders RP, Moody J. Community agency survey formative research results from the TAAG study. Health Educ Behav. 2006;33(1):12–24.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  34. Economos CD, Hyatt RR, Goldberg JP, et al. A community intervention reduces BMI z-score in children: shape up Somerville first year results. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2007;15(5):1325–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Potvin L, Cargo M, McComber AM, Delormier T, Macaulay AC. Implementing participatory intervention and research in communities: lessons from the Kahnawake Schools Diabetes Prevention Project in Canada. Soc Sci Med. 2003;56(6):1295–305.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Cargo M, Lévesque L, Macaulay AC, et al. Community governance of the Kahnawake schools diabetes prevention project, Kahnawake Territory, Mohawk Nation, Canada. Health Promot Int. 2003;18(3):177–87.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Fotu KF, Moodie MM, Mavoa HM, Pomana S, Schultz JT, Swinburn BA. Process evaluation of a community-based adolescent obesity prevention project in Tonga. BMC Public Health. 2011;11(1):284.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  38. Taylor RW, McAuley KA, Barbezat W, Strong A, Williams SM, Mann JIAPPLE. Project: 2-y findings of a community-based obesity prevention program in primary school age children. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007;86(3):735–42.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Mathews LB, Moodie MM, Simmons AM, Swinburn BA. The process evaluation of It’s Your Move!, an Australian adolescent community-based obesity prevention project. BMC Public Health. 2010;10(1):1.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  40. Waqa G, Moodie M, Schultz J, Swinburn B. Process evaluation of a community-based intervention program: healthy youth healthy communities, an adolescent obesity prevention project in Fiji. Glob Health Promot. 2013;20(4):23–34.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Economos CD, Folta SC, Goldberg J, et al. A community-based restaurant initiative to increase availability of healthy menu options in Somerville, Massachusetts: shape up Somerville. Prev Chronic Dis. 2009;6(3):A102.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  42. Goldberg JP, Collins JJ, Folta SC, et al. Retooling food service for early elementary school students in Somerville, Massachusetts: the shape up Somerville experience. Prev Chronic Dis. 2009;6(3):A103.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  43. Stevens J, Murray DM, Catellier DJ, et al. Design of the trial of activity in adolescent girls (TAAG). Contemp Clin Trials. 2005;26(2):223–33.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  44. Taylor RW, McAuley KA, Barbezat W, Farmer VL, Williams SM, Mann JI, APPLE project. Two-year follow-up of an obesity prevention initiative in children: the APPLE project. Am J Clin Nutr. 2008;88(5):1371–7.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Young DR, Steckler A, Cohen S, et al. Process evaluation results from a school- and community-linked intervention: the Trial of Activity for Adolescent Girls (TAAG). Health Educ Res. 2008;23(6):976–86.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  46. Magarey AM, Pettman TL, Wilson A, Mastersson N. Changes in primary school children’s behaviour, knowledge, attitudes, and environments related to nutrition and physical activity. ISRN Obes. 2013;2013(3):752081–10.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  47. Millar L, Kremer P, de Silva Sanigorski A, et al. Reduction in overweight and obesity from a 3-year community-based intervention in Australia: the “It’s Your Move!” project. Obes Rev. 2011;12(s2):20–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. De Bourdeaudhuij I, Verbestel V, De Henauw S, et al. Behavioural effects of a community-oriented setting-based intervention for prevention of childhood obesity in eight European countries. Main results from the IDEFICS study. De Henauw S, Baranowski T, Pigeot I, eds. Obes Rev. 2015;16(S2):30–40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Whitlock EA, O’Connor EP, Williams SB, Beil TL, Lutz KW. Effectiveness of weight management programs in children and adolescents. Evid Rep Technol Assess (Full Rep). 2008;(170):1–308.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Oude Luttikhuis H, Baur L, Jansen H, et al. Interventions for treating obesity in children. In: Oude Luttikhuis H, editor. . Chichester, UK: Wiley; 2009.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  51. McAuley KA, Taylor RW, Farmer VL, et al. Economic evaluation of a community-based obesity prevention program in children: the APPLE project. Obesity. 2010;18(1):131–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Moodie ML, Herbert JK, de Silva-Sanigorski AM, et al. The cost-effectiveness of a successful community-based obesity prevention program: the be active eat well program. Obesity. 2013;21(10):2072–80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Toh CM, Cutter J, Chew SK. School based intervention has reduced obesity in Singapore. BMJ. 2002;324(7334):427.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  54. Agence France Presse. Singapore schools making fat students thin, but emotional burden is heavy. February. 2005:22.

    Google Scholar 

  55. Pigeot I, De Henauw S, Baranowski T. The IDEFICS (Identification and prevention of Dietary- and lifestyle-induced health EFfects In Children and infantS) trial outcomes and process evaluations. De Henauw S, Baranowski T, Pigeot I, eds. Obes Rev. 2015;16 Suppl 2(S2):2–3.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Baranowski T, Lytle L. Should the IDEFICS outcomes have been expected? De Henauw S, Baranowski T, Pigeot I, eds. Obes Rev. 2015;16 Suppl 2(S2):162–72.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Brandou F, Pacaux AS, Marie J, et al. Impact of high- and low-intensity targeted exercise training on the type of substrate utilization in obese boys submitted to a hypocaloric diet. Diabetes Metab. 2005;31(4):327–35.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Reinehr T, Widhalm K, l’Allemand D, Wiegand S, Wabitsch M, Holl RW. Two-year follow-up in 21,784 overweight children and adolescents with lifestyle intervention. Obesity. 2009;17(6):1196–9.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. de Silva-Sanigorski AM, Bolton K, Haby M, et al. Scaling up community-based obesity prevention in Australia: background and evaluation design of the health promoting communities: being active eating well initiative. BMC Public Health. 2010;10(1):65.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  60. Taylor RW, McAuley KA, Williams SM, Barbezat W, Nielsen G, Mann JI. Reducing weight gain in children through enhancing physical activity and nutrition: the APPLE project. Int J Pediatr Obes. 2006;1(3):146–52.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Williden M, Taylor RW, McAuley KA, Simpson JC, Oakley M, Mann JI. The APPLE project: an investigation of the barriers and promoters of healthy eating and physical activity in New Zealand children aged 5–12 years. Health Educ J. 2006;65(2):135–48.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  62. Wilson A, Jones M, Kelly J, Magarey A. Community-based obesity prevention initiatives in aboriginal communities: the experience of the eat well be active community programs in South Australia. Health. 2012;2012(12):1500–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  63. Wilson AM, Magarey AM, Dollman J, Jones M, Mastersson N. The challenges of quantitative evaluation of a multi-setting, multi-strategy community-based childhood obesity prevention programme: lessons learnt from the eat well be active community programs in South Australia. Public Health Nutr. 2010;13(08):1262–70.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. De Bourdeaudhuij I, Verbestel V, De Henauw S, et al. Behavioural effects of a community-oriented setting-based intervention for prevention of childhood obesity in eight European countries. Main results from the IDEFICS study. De Henauw S, Baranowski T, Pigeot I, eds. Obes Rev. 2015;16 Suppl 2(S2):30–40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Bammann K, Peplies J, Sjöström M, et al. Assessment of diet, physical activity and biological, social and environmental factors in a multi-centre European project on diet- and lifestyle-related disorders in children (IDEFICS). J Public Health. 2006;14(5):279–89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  66. McComber AM, Macaulay AC, Kirby R, Desrosiers S, Cross EJ, Saad-Haddad C. The Kahnawake schools diabetes prevention project: community participation in a diabetes primary prevention research project. Int J Circumpolar Health. 1998;57(Suppl 1):370–4.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Jimenez MM, Receveur O, Trifonopoulos M, Kuhnlein H, Paradis G, Macaulay AC. Comparison of the dietary intakes of two different groups of children (grades 4 to 6) before and after the Kahnawake schools diabetes prevention project. J Am Diet Assoc. 2003;103(9):1191–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. Lévesque L, Guilbault G, Delormier T, Potvin L. Unpacking the black box: a deconstruction of the programming approach and physical activity interventions implemented in the Kahnawake schools diabetes prevention project. Health Promot Pract. 2005;6(1):64–71.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  69. Folta SC, Kuder JF, Goldberg JP, et al. Changes in diet and physical activity resulting from the shape up Somerville community intervention. BMC Pediatr. 2013;13(1):157.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  70. Economos CD, Hyatt RR, Must A, et al. Shape up Somerville two-year results: a community-based environmental change intervention sustains weight reduction in children. Prev Med. 2013;57(4):322–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  71. MB V, Murrie D, Gonzalez V, Jobe JB. Listening to girls and boys talk about girls’ physical activity behaviors. Health Educ Behav. 2006;33(1):81–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  72. Young DR, Johnson CC, Steckler A, et al. Data to action: using formative research to develop intervention programs to increase physical activity in adolescent girls. Health Educ Behav. 2006;33(1):97–111.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  73. McKenzie TL, Catellier DJ, Conway T, et al. Girls’ Activity levels and lesson contexts in middle school PE: TAAG baseline. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2006;38(7):1229–35.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  74. Treuth MS, Baggett CD, Pratt CA, et al. A longitudinal study of sedentary behavior and overweight in adolescent girls. Obesity. 2009;17(5):1003–8.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, 615 N. Wolfe St, Suite W2041, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA

    Joel Gittelsohn PhD

  2. Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Hallym University, 1 Hallymdaehak-gil, Life Science Building #8519, Chuncheon, Gangwon, 24252, Republic of Korea

    Sohyun Park PhD

Authors
  1. Joel Gittelsohn PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sohyun Park PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joel Gittelsohn PhD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Duke University School of Medicine , Durham, North Carolina, USA

    Michael S. Freemark

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Gittelsohn, J., Park, S. (2018). School- and Community-Based Interventions for Childhood Obesity. In: Freemark, M. (eds) Pediatric Obesity. Contemporary Endocrinology. Humana Press, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68192-4_34

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68192-4_34

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-68191-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-68192-4

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation