EPODE methodology, education in nutrition & childhood obesity

prevention

Jean-Michel BORYS, MD EPODE European NETWORK Director

Paris jmborys@proteines.fr

EIN Seminar, BRUXELLES Nov 2011

EPODE

Introduction

EPODE was developed to upscale the encouraging results from a pilot study(1) conducted in Northern France between 1992 and 2004 (FLVS)

EPODE (Together let’s prevent childhood obesity) launched in 10 French pilot towns involved in 2004, today more than 500 communities are involved

With the support of the EC-DG SANCO, launch of the EPODE European Network (2008-2011) to facilitate the implementation of the EPODE methodology in Europe (2)

Today, EPODE International Network’s global mission is to reduce childhood obesity prevalence through sustainable strategies built on Community Based Programmes (CBPs).

(1) Romon & Al., Public Health Nutrition, 2009; 12: 1735–1742(2) Borys & Al. Preventing Childhood Obesity, Lavoisier, 2011, 266p.

EPODE Methodology at a glance

EPODE is a coordinated, capacity-building approach for communities

EPODE’s goal is to enable community stakeholders to implement effective and sustainable strategies to prevent childhood obesity at the local level

By changing the social lifestyle norms and behaviours especially in the field of nutrition and physical activity

Encouraging changes in the local environment to be less obesogenic

In each country/region a multi-level and multi-stakeholder

approach

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EPODE Results

(1) Romon M. & Al., "Downward trends in the prevalence of childhood overweight in the setting of 12-year school- and community-based programmes",Public Health Nutr. 2008 Dec 23:1-8.(2) Romon M, Duhamel A, Salleron J, Lommez A, Meyer J, Borys JM. Évolution de la prévalence du surpoids et de l’obésité chez les enfants de 4 à 11 ans entre 2005 et 2010 dans les villes « EPODE ». Nutrition clinique et métabolisme. 2010;24(S1):58.

Overweight (including obesity)

Rate %

P < 0,0001

P < 0,0001

In first EPODE towns (2) Sample size = 23617

The mobilisation of the whole community (2000-2004) is the key to decrease the obesity prevalence in children.

EPODE results after 5 years of implementation

Pilot Study (1) Sample size= 804

Overweight (including obesity)

Rate %

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(1) Romon & Al., Public Health Nutrition, 2009; 12: 1735–1742

Sample size = 804

5.6 5.7

Upper SES NS

7.0

16.9

Middle SES p<0.01

15.2 15.2

26.9

Lower SES p<0.01

CT

FLVS

• The pilot study shows not only that we are able to decrease the obesity prevalence in children but also the inequality of obesity prevalence between the upper and lower SES populations

EPODE Pilot study 2/2

Evolution of the number of towns

involved in EPODE programs in EUROPE

EPODE Outreach• Over 500 cities

• In 8 Countries

• Helping 20 Million people

• EPODE European Network involving 4 major universities

• EPODE INTERNATIONAL NETWORK’s objective: 40 programmes & countries involved by 20159

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Sustainable resources (central level)

– At central level, to secure the funding of central support services, evaluation and local implementation.

– The funding could be public and/or private (PPP)

– At central level, to secure the funding of central support services, evaluation and local implementation.

– The funding could be public and/or private (PPP)

EPODE European Network

EPODE European Network

GOAL: European project run from 2008 to 2011 to enrich the EPODE methodology and facilitate the implementation of EPODE-similar programmes in other European countries

Supported by the Directorate General for Health and Consumers of the European Commission

Support from private partners and involvement of 4 Major European Universities

EEN book of recommendations and EPODE Paper in Obesity Reviews

Reference

Preventing Childhood Obesity, EPODE European Network Recommendations. Borys JM, Le Bodo Y, De Henauw S, Moreno LA, Romon M, Seidell JC, Visscher TLS. Lavoisier. Paris. 2011. ISBN: 978-2-7430-1383-7

Reference

EPODE approach for childhood obesity prevention: methods, progress and international development= obr in press

JMB (S. Jebb (UK), J. Seidell (NL), B. Swinburn (AUS), D. Richard (CAN), C. Summerbell (UK)) and the Chairs of the EEN committees

EPODE International Network

Mission & Targeted Aim

EPODE International Network’s mission isto reduce childhood obesity prevalence through sustainable strategies based on Community Based Programmes (CBPs)

Targeted & measurable aimBy 2015, the aim is to mobilise key stakeholders in more than 20 countries on 5 continents and support 40 large-scale CBPs - involving more than 400 million people worldwide

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Members of EPODE International Network

1. Active Members with voting right:

-Existing or new large scale and sustainable Community-based Programmes aimed at preventing obesity and/or NCDs

1. Observer Members:

-Leading scientific experts involved in obesity & NCDs prevention

-Public and Political representatives and policy makers

-Civil Society Organisations representatives

-Corporate sector including food industry

1. Active Members with voting right:

-Existing or new large scale and sustainable Community-based Programmes aimed at preventing obesity and/or NCDs

1. Observer Members:

-Leading scientific experts involved in obesity & NCDs prevention

-Public and Political representatives and policy makers

-Civil Society Organisations representatives

-Corporate sector including food industry

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Targeted Results1. Mobilization of 20 countries by 2015

2. By 2015 increase the number of EIN member CBPs to more than 40 large-scale programmes from around the globe - involving 400 million people worldwide

3. Greater awareness and visibility of EPODE and similar CBPs around the world

4. Greater dialogue between all the multistakeholders at the global level

5. Greater practice sharing: experience and materials

6. Optimised evaluation frameworks for optimised results (decrease in prevalence, decrease in BMI in countries around the world)

7. Increased number of Scientific Publications presenting outputs and outcomes, opportunities and challenges of CBPs for the benefit of the member CBPs around the globe

Optimised sustainability of non-stigmatising obesity prevention

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www.epode-european-network.com

Contacts and websiteswww.epode-international-network.com

Thank you