Obesity prevention – A community approach
Obesity is caused largely due to poor lifestyle choices like low physical activity and high caloric intake. The EU-funded project SPOTLIGHT(opens in new window) (Sustainable prevention of obesity through integrated strategies) has developed integrated, community-based health promotion strategies to prevent obesity. To increase the knowledge base on obesity-causing factors and effective health promotion strategies, SPOTLIGHT carried out five comprehensive literature reviews. A quality assessment tool was developed to evaluate observational and experimental studies. Factors included self-regulatory individual behaviour, and physical, environmental and social determinants of obesity. Self-motivation, self-efficacy and self-regulatory skills were good indicators of effective long-term weight control and increased physical activity. A strong correlation was found between urban sprawl and land-use mix with obesity in North America. Elsewhere, the review was inconclusive as methods used were widely different and the results were unreliable due to bias. A positive trend was found, however, when it came to social networks enabling reduction in obesity. Environmental characteristics affecting physical activity and diet choices were assessed using two free geospatial services – Google Earth and Google Street View. Virtual and field audits showed good correlation and SPOTLIGHT prepared the cross-EU neighbourhood surveys and audits. Researchers also developed an interactive web-atlas of multi-level interventions that were in progress. Reach, efficacy, adoption, implementation and maintenance of multi-level obesity prevention interventions were also reviewed. Study findings suggest that multi-level interventions are more sustainable and effective than single-level interventions. For maximum positive results, the intervention should incorporate policymakers, sponsors and participants in the planning process. A website to disseminate the intervention strategy could also generate more participation and better outcomes with regard to obesity prevention. Results have been translated into 20 scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals. SPOTLIGHT will provide better insight into multi-level community-based interventions that could be effective in preventing or reducing obesity through behaviour modification. These evidence-based methods could then be implemented across Europe to mitigate the effects of obesity, improve quality of life and reduce the health care burden arising from obesity.
