Several specific population interventions that achieved a Class I or IIa recommendation with grade A or B evidence were identified , providing a set of specific evidence -based strategies that deserve close attention and prioritization for wider implementation .
Effective interventions included specific approaches in all 6 domains evaluated for improving diet , increasing activity , and reducing tobacco use .
The writing group also identified several specific interventions in each of these domains for which current evidence was less robust , as well as other inconsistencies and evidence gaps , informing the need for further rigorous and interdisciplinary approaches to evaluate population programs and policies .
This systematic review identified and grade d the evidence for a range of population -based strategies to promote lifestyle change .
BACKGROUND Poor lifestyle behaviors , including suboptimal diet , physical inactivity , and tobacco use , are leading causes of preventable diseases globally .
Although even modest population shifts in risk substantially alter health outcomes , the optimal population -level approaches to improve lifestyle are not well established .
The effects of a 3-year obesity intervention in schoolchildren in Beijing.
BACKGROUND Childhood obesity has become a health problem in urban areas in China . Intervention to reduce childhood obesity should be of high priority . School-based intervention programmes are needed to deal with the growing prevalence of childhood obesity in China . METHODS Five primary schools were selected r and omly for this study in the Beijing urban area in China ; two were allocated to the intervention group and three to the control group . A total of 2425 children ( 1029 children in intervention schools and 1396 children in control schools ) took part in the study for 3 years . In the intervention group , children and their parents were involved in a programme of nutrition education and physical activity . Control school students followed their usual health and physical education curriculum with no extra intervention . RESULTS After the 3-year intervention , the prevalence of overweight and obesity were significantly lower in the intervention schools than in the control schools ( overweight : 9.8 % vs. 14.4 % , P < 0.01 ; obesity : 7.9 % vs. 13.3 % , P < 0.01 ) . The prevalence of overweight and obesity decreased by 26.3 % and 32.5 % in intervention schools respectively after intervention . The prevalence of overweight and obesity increased in control schools . There was also significant difference in body mass index between intervention and control schools ( 18.2 + /- 2.6 vs. 20.3 + /- 3.4 , P < 0.01 ) after intervention . More non-obese children became obese in the control schools ( 7.0 % ) than in the intervention schools ( 2.4 % ) at end line ( P < 0.01 ) . Among the children who were obese at baseline , 49.2 % remained obese at end line in intervention schools while 61.9 % remained obese in control schools ( P < 0.01 ) . CONCLUSIONS Our study showed that an intervention programme could be feasible in schools in Beijing , China . The prevalence of overweight and obesity was reduced in schoolchildren in Beijing through an intervention focused on nutrition education and physical activity . Overweight and obesity children as well as normal weight children and their parents should be involved in such an intervention programme
Several specific population interventions that achieved a Class I or IIa recommendation with grade A or B evidence were identified , providing a set of specific evidence -based strategies that deserve close attention and prioritization for wider implementation .
Effective interventions included specific approaches in all 6 domains evaluated for improving diet , increasing activity , and reducing tobacco use .
The writing group also identified several specific interventions in each of these domains for which current evidence was less robust , as well as other inconsistencies and evidence gaps , informing the need for further rigorous and interdisciplinary approaches to evaluate population programs and policies .
This systematic review identified and grade d the evidence for a range of population -based strategies to promote lifestyle change .
BACKGROUND Poor lifestyle behaviors , including suboptimal diet , physical inactivity , and tobacco use , are leading causes of preventable diseases globally .
Although even modest population shifts in risk substantially alter health outcomes , the optimal population -level approaches to improve lifestyle are not well established .