Downward trends in the prevalence of childhood overweight in two pilot towns taking part in the VIASANO community-based programme in Belgium: data from a national school health monitoring system

Background Multilevel approaches involving environmental strategies are considered to be good practice to help reduce the prevalence of childhood overweight. Objectives The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of VIASANO, a community-based programme using the EPODE methodology, on the prevalence of overweight in two pilot towns in Belgium. Methods We analysed data from a national school health monitoring system to compare changes in the prevalence of overweight and obesity over a 3-year period (2007–2010) in children aged 3–4 and 5–6 years in the pilot towns with those of childr... Mehr ...