EPODE approach for childhood obesity prevention: methods, progress and international development

Abstract

Childhood obesity is a complex issue and needs multi-stakeholder involvement at all levels to foster healthier lifestyles in a sustainable way. 'Ensemble Prévenons l'Obésité Des Enfants' (EPODE, Together Let's Prevent Childhood Obesity) is a large-scale, coordinated, capacity-building approach for communities to implement effective and sustainable strategies to prevent childhood obesity. This paper describes EPODE methodology and its objective of preventing childhood obesity. At a central level, a coordination team, using social marketing and organizational techniques, trains and coaches a local project manager nominated in each EPODE community by the local authorities. The local project manager is also provided with tools to mobilize local stakeholders through a local steering committee and local networks. The added value of the methodology is to mobilize stakeholders at all levels across the public and the private sectors. Its critical components include political commitment, sustainable resources, support services and a strong scientific input--drawing on the evidence-base--together with evaluation of the programme. Since 2004, EPODE methodology has been implemented in more than 500 communities in six countries. Community-based interventions are integral to childhood obesity prevention. EPODE provides a valuable model to address this challenge.

Figure 1

Ensemble Prévenons l'Obésité Des Enfants (EPODE) stakeholders at central and local levels. NGO, non-governmental organization.

Figure 2

(a) Distribution of Ensemble Prévenons l'Obésité Des Enfants (EPODE) national expenses (France, 2009). This figure represents the distribution of the annual budget of the EPODE national coordination activities in 2009, i.e. €981,667. The programme concerned 226 communities counting 4,000,000 inhabitants. (b) Example of EPODE expenses distribution in a French pilot community in 2009. This figure represents the distribution of an annual budget of €95,000 in an EPODE town counting 50,000 inhabitants and including more than 3,000 children aged 5–12 whose body mass index is monitored in the EPODE framework.

Figure 3

Ensemble Prévenons l'Obésité Des Enfants social marketing approach inspired from various existing frameworks (25,26).

Figure 4

Evolution of the number of communities involved in Ensemble Prévenons l'Obésité Des Enfants (EPODE) France and other European EPODE programmes from 2004 to 2010.