Designing an Obesity Prevention Action Plan for Your Community

This report focuses on the action plan to reduce the consumption of high calorific food item among the children between 5 and 17 years in the City of Melton. It covers community engagement, program design and evaluation, best practice principles, sustainability and governance. The goal of the program design is to reduce the consumption of junk food by 40% and to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables by 30% in children between 5 and 17 years in the City of Melton within 4 years.

Assessment Task 3 (AT3) written
assignment: Designing an obesity
prevention action plan for your
community: Applying Best
Practice Principles (BPPs)

Contents
Background......................................................................................................................................3
Community engagement..................................................................................................................3
Program design and evaluation........................................................................................................4
Goal of the program design..........................................................................................................4
Best Practice Principles: program strategies and process evaluation methods............................5
Discussion and justification of the strategies...............................................................................5
Discussion and justification of the evaluation methods...............................................................6
Sustainability and governance.........................................................................................................7
References........................................................................................................................................7
Appendix..........................................................................................................................................9

Background
Obesity is a public health issue globally as around 1.9 billion adults come under either the
category of overweight or obese (1). The prevalence of overweight and obesity in Australia is a
major public health concern (2). Considering the data from Australia, it is found in the National
Health Survey 2014-15 that 36% of adults in Australia are overweight and 28% are obese. For
children, it was found that children between 5 and 17yrs, 20% were overweight and 7% were
obese which is alarming for this population (3). The causes of obesity are numerous ranging
from genetic disposition to physical inactivity, which can be responsible for the condition singly,
or in combination. In Australia specifically, unhealthy food and nutrition, less physical activity
and the increase of the obesogenic environment are regarded as chief contributor to this health
issue (4). The City of Melton is a local government area in Victoria, Australia, in western side of
Melbourne's rural–urban fringe. In the City of Melton, 16.9% adolescents were eating the
minimum recommended serves of fruit and vegetables each day in 2009 which was lower than
the proportion reported across Western Metropolitan Region (18.3%). Also. Residents of Melton
considerably have more chances of being obese. This report focuses on the action plan to reduce
the consumption of high calorific food item among the children between 5 and 17 years in the
City of Melton.
Community engagement
A collaborated effort from the State Government, State Education department and the City
Councils of the City of Melton is required either update previous policies or make new policies
to remove high caloric temptation from children and adolescent. Subsidies on purchase of
healthy food items such as fruits and vegetables in the form of discounts, vouchers or coupons

can be planned (5). Further, the fast food serving settings can be zoned through local council
bylaws (6). Guidelines can be passed to ban the advertisement of unhealthy food at outdoor sites.
Strict policies against incorrect labeling of calorie values or false claims over the junk food items
should also be made. Children between 5 and 16 are school-going so school canteen policies can
be updated to promote selling of healthy food items at reasonable price and lower the availability
of high calorific value products (7). Another collaborative work is required from the school
authorties of the City of Melton with the teachers, students and parents to plan and conduct
nutrition awareness curriculum sessions, meetings and workshops. Modules covering the health
impacts of high calorie consumption can be included in the school curriculum. In addition,
school newsletter articles focused on discouraging consumption of high calorie food and
adopting healthy food habits targeted at adolescence and parents can also be taken up. It can
increase efforts from parents as well as children’s own side to avoid fast food. Further, it should
be ensured that a professional development orientation is provided to the teachers, canteen
supervisors and sports coaches so that the new policies are implemented efficiently. The
community of the City of Melton can act to develop community level social media campaign
which points out towards the short-term and long-term adverse effects of consuming high calorie
food items so that its temptation among children between 5 and 16 years can be reduced.
Program design and evaluation
Goal of the program design
Goal of this obesity prevention initiative is to prevent or reduce the incidence of obesity by
reducing calorie temptation among children between 5 and 17 years in the City of Melton.
Specifically, the objective is to reduce the consumption of junk food by 40% and to increase the

consumption of fruits and vegetables by 30% in children between 5 and 17 years in the City of
Melton within 4 years.
Best Practice Principles: program strategies and process evaluation
methods
It can be found in the Table 1 in Appendix 1.
Discussion and justification of the strategies
By reducing the temptation of high calorie food among children, its consumption can be
decreased which will help tremendously in lowering the incidence of obesity among the children
of the City of Melton. An article from the Independent stated that several Government across the
world are using subsiding schemes to generate healthy habits among their population (8).
Another study conducted by the economists at Bath University, revealed that by subsidising
healthy foods by up to 10% will switch eating habits of overweight and obese individuals than a
taxing scheme on unhealthy products, and could be cost-effective in long-term. Further, it is
found that while attempting to reduce the access to unhealthy foods municipal zoning codes may
hold unique potential especially in the school vicinity. In addition, the zoning laws ascertain how
the City of Melton land may be used and where these different uses may take place (9). A
Research Paper no. 9 published in 2010–11 by Parliament of Australia which suprted the idea
that the environement of Australia demanded the need for more standardising advertising
policies for junk foods. It also stated that the need that Government should effectively balance
ultimately several complex issues such as safeguarding children from corruption, the rights of
commercial interests to endorse their goods and to trade legally, and differing conceptual views
(10). Further, a study demonstrated that media campaigns about unhealthy foods such as sugary
drinks and obesity can be useful for raising awareness about added sugars in beverages,

increasing knowledge about health issues related to too much sugar consumption, and inducing
behavioral intents to decrease soda and sugary drink intake (11). Professional development
orientation for teachers, canteen managers, sports coaches to implement new policies. Evidence
suggest that policies and regulations ensure healthy nutrition environments and practical
professional training and education of the involved professionals is required to translate policies
into competent practices (12). Inclusion of modules discussing the health impacts of high calorie
consumption in the school curriculum will also be a useful strategy. One study suggested that the
formal health curriculum that offers students the significant knowledge and social skills that will
facilitate them to make informed decisions influencing their physical, psychological and social
health (13).
Discussion and justification of the evaluation methods
Several methods can be utilized to check, that whether the objective of reducing the consumption
of junk food by 40% and to increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables by 30% in children
between 5 and 17 years in the City of Melton within 4 years is met or not. To check the food
subsidy scheme, audits can be done at the supermarkets and other shops near the school vicinity
to check the number of food items on which subsidies have been applied after the application of
the scheme. Survey can be conducted to find out the number (%) of schools complying with the
Healthy canteen policy pre and post updating of the policies (14). The success of social media
campaign to raise awareness can be measured by checking the number of likes and shares on
Facebook and Instagram posts. Evaluation of professional development training can be done by
assessing the number (%) of teachers and canteen managers taking part in professional
development orientations. A survey can be conducted of adolescence regarding consumption of
high calorie food attitudes and knowledge after updating their curriculum with lessons of

nutrition and healthy habits. To verify the results of this survey a school curriculum audit can be
performed pre and post the curriculum update (15). Another survey of parents can be conducted
regarding consumption of high calorie food at home after distributing school newsletter articles.
Sustainability and governance
Various steps will need to be taken to ensure that the recommended intervention strategies are
rooted into the current systems, procedures and policies to promote sustainability so that the
positive outcomes gained are continued beyond the funded period of four years.
A Reference Committee must be constructed to give higher level of directed guidance and
assistance. It will also evaluate progress and give high-end budget approvals. Members in this
community can include personnel from Department of Human Services, Department of
Education and the principals from the schools who can meet bimonthly. A Project Management
Group also needs to be formed to push the execution of the project’s action plan which should be
led by the Project Coordinator. The Project Management Group will include School Project
Officers who can meet monthly during school term. The Project Coordinator will give training,
assess and guide the schools with a reporting line back to the Reference Committee. In addition
he/she will also coordinate meetings for the project management Group and the Reference
Committee. Lastly, student Ambassadors Group will be formed by elected Students from all the
schools by the Project Officers. Student Ambassadors will play the role of project guardian and
inform the formation and application of suitable interventions.

References
1. World Health Organisation (WHO). Obesity and Overweight [Internet]. [Geneva: WHO];
c2018 [revised 2018 Feb 16; cited 2018 Sep 26].
2. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. A picture of overweight and obesity in
Australia 2017. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2017.
3. Australian Bureau of Statistics. National Health Survey: First Results, 2014-15 CAT
4364.0.55.001 Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics; 2015 [cited 2018 Sep 26]].
4. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. A picture of overweight and obesity in
Australia 2017 [Internet]. Canberra: AIHW; 2017 [cited 2018 Sep 26].
5. An R. Effectiveness of subsidies in promoting healthy food purchases and consumption:
a review of field experiments. Public health nutrition. 2013;16(7):1215-28.
6. Nixon H, Doud L. Do fast food restaurants cluster around high schools? A geospatial
analysis of proximity of fast food restaurants to high schools and the connection to
childhood obesity rates. Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems, and Community
Development. 2016;2(1):181-94.
7. Raulio S, Roos E, Prättälä R. School and workplace meals promote healthy food habits.
Public health nutrition. 2010;13(6A):987-92.
8. Rivas J. Subsidies for healthy foods are a price worth paying to tackle obesity. The
Conversation. 2017
9. Davis B, Carpenter C. Proximity of fast-food restaurants to schools and adolescent
obesity. American Journal of Public Health. 2009;99(3):505-10.
10. Jolly R. Marketing Obesity?: Junk Food, Advertising and Kids. Parliamentary Library;
2011.

11. Boles M, Adams A, Gredler A, Manhas S. Ability of a mass media campaign to influence
knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors about sugary drinks and obesity. Preventive
medicine. 2014;67:S40-5.
12. Tovar A, Risica P, Mena N, Lawson E, Ankoma A, Gans KM. Peer reviewed: An
assessment of nutrition practices and attitudes in family child-care homes: Implications
for policy implementation. Preventing chronic disease. 2015; 12.
13. Melo H, de Moura AP, Aires LL, Cunha LM. Barriers and facilitators to the promotion of
healthy eating lifestyles among adolescents at school: the views of school health
coordinators. Health education research. 2013; 28(6):979-92.
14. Robson C. Small-scale evaluation: Principles and practice. Sage; 2017
15. Ivers NM, Sales A, Colquhoun H, Michie S, Foy R, Francis JJ, Grimshaw JM. No more
‘business as usual’with audit and feedback interventions: towards an agenda for a
reinvigorated intervention. Implementation Science. 2014; 9(1):14.
Appendix
Table 1. Best Practice Principles: program strategies and process evaluation methods
Program design and planning strategies Evaluation methods
Policy  Subsidy schemes at health food
items such as coupons or
discounts at purchase of
purchase of fruit and vegetables
 Fast food serving settings can
be zoned through local council
 Audits of the
supermarkets to check
the implementation of
food subsidy schemes.
 Area survey to check
zoning out of the fast

bylaws
 Banning advertising of junk
food at outdoor locations
 Modifications in school canteen
policies
 Strict policies against incorrect
labeling of calorie values or
false claims over the junk food
items
food restaurants and
advertisements of fast
food.
 Number (%) of schools
adhering to Healthy
canteen policy pre and
post intervention
 Number of items
having incorrect
labeling pre and post
intervention
Community Community level social media
campaign to raise awareness regarding
the adverse health impact of high
calorie food and encourage
consumption of fruits and vegetables
 Number of Facebook
/Instagram posts
 Number of likes and
shares
Organizational Professional development orientation
for teachers, canteen managers, sports
coaches to implement new policies
Number (%) of teachers,
canteen managers, sports
coaches participating in
professional development
sessions.
Interpersonal  School newsletter articles
focused on discouraging
consumption of high calorie
 Number (%) schools
with school newsletter
articles/notices on

food and adopting healthy food
habits
 Promote selling of healthy food
items at reasonable price and
lower the availability of high
calorific value products
awareness of adverse
effect of high calorie
consumption
 Mean number of
articles per school over
the intervention period.
 Survey of adolescence
regarding consumption
of high calorie food
attitudes and
knowledge pre/post
intervention
 Survey to parents
regarding consumption
of high calorie food at
home pre/post
intervention
 School Food Checklist
(for lunchboxes and
food eaten at school)
pre/post intervention
Individual Inclusion of modules discussing the
health impacts of high calorie
 School curriculum
audit – pre to post

consumption in the school curriculum intervention