69 – Crossing borders for obesity prevention: the EPODE approach

Résumé En

EPODE is a coordinated, capacity-building approach for communities to implement effective and sustainable strategies to prevent childhood obesity.At central level, a coordination team using social marketing and organizational techniques trains and coaches a local project manager nominated in each EPODE town by the local authorities. The local project manager is provided with training, coaching and tools to mobilize local stakeholders through a local steering committee and local networks. This methodology enables the entire community to be empowered and contribute to create a healthier environment facilitating social norms change and healthier behaviours. The added value of the methodology is based on critical components such as a strong scientific input, institutional endorsement, evidence-base and social marketing techniques, sustainable resources, brand dynamics and programme monitoring and evaluation.The EPODE methodology is now implemented in more than 300 towns in six countries (Spain, Belgium, Greece, France, South Australia and Mexico) and concerns more than five million people. EPODE Monitoring and Evaluation practices to date include not only outcome but also process and output indicators at central, local, settings and child levels. At child level we monitor the prevalence of overweight and obesity in children aged 5–12 years. The response rate is high (95 %) in the eight pilot towns. The prevalence of children overweight including obesity decreased in the pilot towns between 2005 and 2009 (from 20?6 % to 18?8 %, P , 0?0001).Building on EPODE experiences and multidisciplinary expertise, the EPODE European Network project is enriching the EPODE methodology and facilitating the implementation of similar initiatives in other European countries.Childhood obesity is a complex issue and needs a multi-stakeholder involvement at all levels to foster healthier lifestyles in a sustainable way. The EPODE methodology contributes to this approach.