Development of the Indicator “Policies to Prevent Childhood Obesity” to Monitor Childrenʼs Health

Abstract

MAB1-PD-05 Introduction: The prevalence of childhood obesity and overweight is rising significantly with as many as 1 in 4 affected in some European regions. The CEHAPE Regional Priority Goal II aims to reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity and to decrease the morbidity from lack of adequate physical activity by implementing health promotion activities in accordance with the WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health and the WHO Food and Nutrition Action Plan for the European Region for 2000 to 2005. The CEHAPE calls for the development of child-specific indicators to monitor the implementation of policies from this goal. Methods: Developing an indicator to monitor the implementation of policies and activities to prevent and reduce obesity was a priority in the RPGII work package of the ENHIS project coordinated by WHO/EURO Bonn Office. The indicator aims to evaluate a number of policies and actions resulting form the WHO Global Strategy and WHO European Action Plan. Policies and actions were identified by reviewing the mentioned WHO documents, and international experts were consulted on the appropriateness of the policies listed in the indicator. The questionnaire was sent then to participant country officials to undertake a feasibility testing. This testing included questions on the availability of each data element, as well as an evaluation of the usefulness of the indicator on the basis of its perceived understandability and policy relevance. Results: Data availability, understandability, and policy relevance were reported to be high and homogeneous among participating countries. Countries completed the questionnaire demostrating the feasibility and aplicabiltity of the indicator and reported lack of legislation on responsible food advertising and marketing, on minimum physical exercise requirements, and lack of a special administrative structure responsible for implementation of WHO strategies. Conclusions: Despite the limitations of comparisons between composite indexes, this indicator provides crucial information on the implementation of policies and activities recommended by WHO and is needed to evaluate the support given by countries to WHO initiatives. It shows which areas are well implemented and which ones are failing to be implemented. The high scoring obtained should be interpreted as an indication of increased capability, willingness, and commitment by countries. This indicator is under further pilot testing in the framework of ENHIS2 project and will be used to monitor the implementation progress of CEHAPE at the intergovernmental meeting in 2007. Acknowledgments: ENHIS partners, Ingrid Keller (WHO, Geneva), EC DGSanco Grant 2003112.