1. School‐based systems change for obesity prevention in adolescents: outcomes of the Australian Capital Territory ‘It's Your Move!’
- Author
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Mary Malakellis, Erin Hoare, Andrew Sanigorski, Nicholas Crooks, Steven Allender, Melanie Nichols, Boyd Swinburn, Cal Chikwendu, Paul M. Kelly, Solveig Petersen, and Lynne Millar
- Subjects
Adolescence ,systems intervention ,obesity ,weight status ,schools ,health promotion ,Public aspects of medicine ,RA1-1270 - Abstract
Abstract Objective: The Australian Capital Territory ‘It's Your Move!’ (ACT‐IYM) was a three‐year (2012–2014) systems intervention to prevent obesity among adolescents. Methods: The ACT‐IYM project involved three intervention schools and three comparison schools and targeted secondary students aged 12–16 years. The intervention consisted of multiple initiatives at individual, community, and school policy level to support healthier nutrition and physical activity. Intervention school‐specific objectives related to increasing active transport, increasing time spent physically active at school, and supporting mental wellbeing. Data were collected in 2012 and 2014 from 656 students. Anthropometric data were objectively measured and behavioural data self‐reported. Results: Proportions of overweight or obesity were similar over time within the intervention (24.5% baseline and 22.8% follow‐up) and comparison groups (31.8% baseline and 30.6% follow‐up). Within schools, two of three the intervention schools showed a significant decrease in the prevalence of overweight and obesity (p
- Published
- 2017
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