A whole system approach to childhood obesity: How a supportive environment was created in the city of Brighton and Hove, United Kingdom

cg.contributor.crpAgriculture for Nutrition and Health
cg.contributor.donorCGIAR Trust Funden
cg.coverage.countryUnited Kingdom
cg.coverage.iso3166-alpha2GB
cg.coverage.regionEurope
cg.coverage.regionNorthern Europe
cg.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-023-01361-9en
cg.identifier.projectIFPRI - Stories of Change in Nutritionen
cg.issn1876-4517en
cg.issue4en
cg.journalFood Securityen
cg.reviewStatusPeer Reviewen
cg.volume15en
dc.contributor.authorSalm, Leahen
dc.contributor.authorNisbett, Nicholasen
dc.contributor.authorCuming, Katieen
dc.contributor.authorHrynick, Tabithaen
dc.contributor.authorLulache, Alexandraen
dc.contributor.authorMacGregor, Hayleyen
dc.date.accessioned2025-01-29T12:58:17Zen
dc.date.available2025-01-29T12:58:17Zen
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10568/171514
dc.titleA whole system approach to childhood obesity: How a supportive environment was created in the city of Brighton and Hove, United Kingdomen
dcterms.abstractChildhood obesity is a growing global challenge, and no country has yet reversed the upward trend in prevalence. The causes are multifaceted, spanning individual, societal, environmental, and political spheres. This makes finding solutions complex as traditional linear models of treatment and effect have proven only minimally successful or unfeasible at the population level. There is also a paucity of evidence of what works, and few examples of intervention that operate on a ‘whole systems’ level. The city of Brighton in the United Kingdom has experienced a downward trend in child obesity rates compared to national figures. The aim of this study was to explore what has led to successful change in the city. This was done through a review of local data, policy and programs, and thirteen key informant interviews with key stakeholders involved in the local food and healthy weight agenda. Our findings highlight key mechanisms that have plausibly contributed to a supportive environment for obesity reduction in Brighton according to key local policy and civil society actors. These mechanisms include; a commitment to early years intervention such as breastfeeding promotion; a supportive local political context; the ability to tailor interventions to community needs; governance structures and capacity that enable cross-sectoral collaboration; and a citywide framing of obesity solutions in the context of a ‘whole system’ approach. However, substantial inequalities persist in the city. Engaging families in areas of high deprivation and operating in an increasingly difficult context of national austerity are persistent challenges. This case study sheds light on some mechanisms of what a whole systems approach to obesity looks like in practice in a local context. This is of relevance to both policymakers and healthy weight practitioners across a spectrum of sectors who need to be engaged to tackle child obesity.en
dcterms.accessRightsOpen Access
dcterms.available2023-04-19en
dcterms.bibliographicCitationSalm, Leah; Nisbett, Nicholas; Cuming, Katie; Hrynick, Tabitha; Lulache, Alexandra; and MacGregor, Hayley. A whole system approach to childhood obesity: How a supportive environment was created in the city of Brighton and Hove, United Kingdom. Food Security 15: 919-935. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-023-01361-9en
dcterms.extentpp. 919-935en
dcterms.issued2023-08en
dcterms.languageen
dcterms.licenseCC-BY-4.0
dcterms.publisherSpringeren
dcterms.subjectobesityen
dcterms.subjectchildrenen
dcterms.subjectpoliciesen
dcterms.subjectprogrammesen
dcterms.subjectweighten
dcterms.subjectfoodsen
dcterms.subjectequalityen
dcterms.typeJournal Article

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