PACO III
Aruba, 5 – 7 June 2013
EPODE Population based interventions
and Childhood Obesity Prevention
Prof. em. Jan Vinck
Hasselt University (Belgium)
Epode International Network
• Aims: support community based programs for prevention of
(childhood) obesity
• 4 pillars
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political involvement
dual intervention approach
Public-private participation
Scientific basis for intervention and evaluation
This presentation
“Methodology” : some fundamental aspects
- why a community based approach?
- implication 1: a dual intervention approach
- implication 2: the role of the local project manager
Why a community-based
approach? (1)
• Behavior not in a vacuum
• Behavior is function of situation, of “behavioral context”
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–
–
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physical
social
cultural
cost/benefit (reinforcment structure)
• We live in an “obesogenic” environment
• Changing to healthy behavior in this context is maladapted
 difficult, non-rewarding and not durable
Why a community-based
approach? (2°
environment has to be adapted to support and maintain
long term healthy behavior
 “community” is most interesting environment:
- concrete,
- involves larger populations
- involves relevant actors that control relevant aspects of
environment
Implication 1
We need a dual intervention approach
– social marketing (Dennis Edell)
– an environmental approach: change relevant aspects of the
environment
•
•
•
•
physical
social
cultural
reinforcement structure (cost/benefit of behavior)
Implication 2
The central role of the local project manager (LPM)
1. LPM appointed by local political authority
 acts on behalf of the legitimate authority
2. LPM works in direct contact with relevant local
actors/stakeholders
Role of LPM
Adaptation of interventions to local situation and population:
- identify relevant populations/subgroups
- identify relevant actors (control relevant aspects of
environment)
- mobilize these actors
- inspire local action
- organize collaboration
Common difficulties for LPM’s
• time
• heterogeneous background
– behavioral science
– skills for community action
– skills for project management
Support from EIN
• National/regional management
– training + support
– preparation of materials for campaigns
– (media) visibility
• EIN
– scientific basis
– evaluation methodology (“bottom-up”)
– taxonomy
Proposal
An EIN training center for LPM and/or scientific program
advisors
summer school?
research institute?
post-graduate course?
Thank you