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 .
Reducing unhealthy weight gain in children through community capacity-building: results of a quasi-experimental intervention program, Be Active Eat Well
Background : Be Active Eat Well ( BAEW ) was a multifaceted community capacity-building program promoting healthy eating and physical activity for children ( aged 4–12 years ) in the Australian town of Colac . Objective : To evaluate the effects of BAEW on reducing  children 's unhealthy weight gain . Methods : BAEW had a quasi-experimental , longitudinal design with anthropometric and demographic data collected on Colac children in four preschools and six primary schools at baseline ( 2003 , n=1001 , response rate : 58 % ) and follow-up ( 2006 , n=839 , follow-up rate : 84 % ) . The comparison sample was a stratified r and om selection of preschools ( n=4 ) and primary schools ( n=12 ) from the rest of the Barwon South Western region of Victoria , with baseline assessment in 2003–2004 ( n=1183 , response rate : 44 % ) and follow-up in 2006 ( n=979 , follow-up rate : 83 % ) . Results : Colac children had significantly lower increases in body weight ( mean : −0.92 kg , 95 % CI : −1.74 to −0.11 ) , waist ( −3.14 cm , −5.07 to −1.22 ) , waist/height ( −0.02 , −0.03 to −0.004 ) , and body mass index z-score ( −0.11 , −0.21 to −0.01 ) than comparison children , adjusted for baseline variable , age , height , gender , duration between measurements and clustering by school . In Colac , the anthropometric changes were not related to four indicators of socioeconomic status ( SES ) , whereas in the comparison group 19/20 such analyses showed significantly greater gains in anthropometry in children from lower SES families . Changes in underweight and attempted weight loss were no different between the groups . Conclusions : Building community capacity to promote healthy eating and physical activity appears to be a safe and effective way to reduce unhealthy weight gain in children without increasing health inequalities
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 .