Preventing childhood obesity in the UK, with a focus on South Asian children
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Birmingham
Department Name: School of Psychology
Abstract
We plan to develop a package of activities to prevent obesity among children. The activities will be tested among children aged 5 to 7 in primary schools in Birmingham.
Obesity is a growing global problem among children and adults. Its health consequences include increased risk of heart disease, cancers and diabetes. In the UK, people of South Asian (SA) origin are at particularly high risk, but this group have not been included in previous research. We know that targeting children is a good way of preventing the rising trend.
Previous research has had limited success, partly because less attention was paid to the planning process. Our study takes a new approach to planning, focusing on environmental factors and including children of SA background.
We will first gather information from people in schools and surrounding communities, and combine this with information from the scientific literature. Through this process we aim to define activities that the target community perceives to be effective, important and acceptable.
We will then test the package among children from four primary schools. We will assess the effects and refine the activities by comparing these children with children from other similar schools who did not have these activities.
Obesity is a growing global problem among children and adults. Its health consequences include increased risk of heart disease, cancers and diabetes. In the UK, people of South Asian (SA) origin are at particularly high risk, but this group have not been included in previous research. We know that targeting children is a good way of preventing the rising trend.
Previous research has had limited success, partly because less attention was paid to the planning process. Our study takes a new approach to planning, focusing on environmental factors and including children of SA background.
We will first gather information from people in schools and surrounding communities, and combine this with information from the scientific literature. Through this process we aim to define activities that the target community perceives to be effective, important and acceptable.
We will then test the package among children from four primary schools. We will assess the effects and refine the activities by comparing these children with children from other similar schools who did not have these activities.
Technical Summary
Obesity is a risk factor for many chronic diseases and is an increasing problem. Prevention is best targeted at children. However, systematic reviews have found limited high quality data on the effectiveness of interventions tested. In the UK, the rapidly increasing South Asian (SA) population is at particular risk of obesity and its consequences. However, no previous intervention studies have targeted this population. The aim of this study is to develop an intervention which can later be used in a definitive RCT. We plan to undertake an environmental analysis to identify modifiable factors contributing to obesity, plan and undertake an exploratory trial for preventing obesity in SA children, and pilot the measurement instruments for a definitive trial. The intervention package will be developed using the MRC framework for complex interventions, focusing on environmental factors.
Publications

Adab P
(2014)
Preventing childhood obesity, phase II feasibility study focusing on South Asians: BEACHeS.
in BMJ open


Knowles G
(2013)
Physical activity and blood pressure in primary school children: a longitudinal study.
in Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979)


Pallan M
(2013)
Development of a childhood obesity prevention programme with a focus on UK South Asian communities.
in Preventive medicine

Pallan M
(2012)
Contextual influences on the development of obesity in children: a case study of UK South Asian communities.
in Preventive medicine

Pallan MJ
(2011)
Body image, body dissatisfaction and weight status in South Asian children: a cross-sectional study.
in BMC public health
Description | Centre for Obesity Research, Birmingham University, PhD Studentship |
Amount | £90,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Birmingham |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2010 |
End | 10/2014 |
Description | Guangzhou Municipal Health Bureau |
Amount | ¥1,000,000 (CNY) |
Organisation | Guangzhou Municipal Health Bureau |
Sector | Public |
Country | China |
Start | 09/2013 |
End | 06/2015 |
Description | MRC DTA PhD studentship |
Amount | £60,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2009 |
End | 10/2011 |
Description | NIHR PDG |
Amount | £100,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | National Institute for Health Research |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 06/2017 |
End | 06/2018 |
Description | NIHR Public Health Research Board |
Amount | £447,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 14/185/13 |
Organisation | National Institute for Health Research |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2016 |
End | 06/2018 |
Description | NIHR, HTA, Project Grant |
Amount | £2,600,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 06/85/11 |
Organisation | National Institute for Health Research |
Department | Health Technology Assessment Programme (HTA) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2010 |
End | 10/2015 |
Description | South Birmingham PCT, Evaluation grant |
Amount | £90,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | South Birmingham Primary Care Trust (PCT) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2010 |
End | 06/2011 |
Description | Wellcome Seed Fund |
Amount | £89,236 (GBP) |
Organisation | Wellcome Trust |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2016 |
End | 10/2018 |
Title | BEACHeS dataset |
Description | Dataset of measures on ~600 south Asian children over two time periods, which can be used to address a number of research questions |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2007 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | A number of student projects (8 medical student projects, 2 BMed Sci projects, 4 MPH projects) have been undertaken based on the findings of this study. 2 PhD students also used data arising from this database for their theses. A recent publication led by colleagues in Edinburgh is based on analysis of data from this dataset. Another colleague used the dataset to do analysis which was presented at an international conference. |
Title | CADET- south Asian version |
Description | 24-hour semi-quantified dietary assessment tool suitable for south Asian children that was validated as part of this study. |
Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
Year Produced | 2009 |
Provided To Others? | Yes |
Impact | We now have a dietary assessment tool that can be simply applied in epidemiological studies involving south Asian children. This allows quantification of dietary intake, including assessment of whole foods and nutrients. |
Description | Childhood obesity prevention in China |
Organisation | Guangzhou Center for Disease Control |
Country | China |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Co-investigator for a funded study: "Epidemiological study of childhood obesity correlate impacting factors and control and prevention in Guangzhou city". I contributed to the design and planning of the application. |
Collaborator Contribution | Successfully applied to Guangzhou Municipal Health Bureau to fund the project |
Impact | The study has completed and there have been five publications that arose from the collaboration. We are currently discussing potential future research. |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Collaborator for NIHR programme grant application: "Development and evaluation of interventions for the prevention of childhood obesity in a multi-ethnic population: the Born in Bradford NHS Research Programme" |
Organisation | University of Bradford |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Shared experience of using the MRC framework for Complex interventions in our study, and the lessons learnt that could be shared and used to improve their study plans. I commented on the draft proposal. |
Impact | The Programme grant was successful and funded. |
Start Year | 2007 |
Description | Relationship between sleep duration and obesity in children |
Organisation | University of Birmingham |
Department | College of Life and Environmental Sciences |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We administered a questionnaire to parents and children to obtain a measure of sleep duration, to combine with other planned measures. |
Collaborator Contribution | Added an instrument on sleep duration and quality, which was administered alongside other measures, and is being used for developing new publications |
Impact | PhD student project, Medical student projects, draft manuscripts for publication, and others in preparation |
Start Year | 2008 |
Description | BUZZ magazine |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Article for the University of Birmingham monthly news magazine, highlighting the project and work being done. Enquiries from a number of staff and students |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2007 |
Description | Every Child Matters magazine (Schools publication) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Publication is disseminated to all primary schools in the UK A number of people have been in touch to ask for copies of the article |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
Description | NCRI conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Panel member for plenary session at NCRI conference. The audience included general public and professionals attending the conference. The panel discussion was for half an hour. Questions from the audience that were answered |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2008 |
Description | PCTs |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presentations to PCTs, local NHS conferences, local obesity prevention groups outlining the work being done Supported development of PCT obesity strategies Developed further collaborations, and plans to submit research bids with one PCT. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2007,2008,2009 |
Description | Radio interview -Ed Doolan show |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Took part in hour long radio talk show on obesity in local west midlands radio. Interest from some members of public |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |