Premium
The potential for long‐term cost‐effectiveness of obesity prevention interventions in the early years of life
Author(s) -
Brown Vicki,
Ananthapavan Jaithri,
Sonntag Diana,
Tan Eng Joo,
Hayes Alison,
Moodie Marj
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
pediatric obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.226
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 2047-6310
pISSN - 2047-6302
DOI - 10.1111/ijpo.12517
Subject(s) - medicine , psychological intervention , overweight , obesity , childhood obesity , cohort , population , gerontology , health care , cost effectiveness , environmental health , pediatrics , nursing , risk analysis (engineering) , economics , economic growth
Summary Background Early childhood obesity prevention is gaining increasing importance, as the prevalence of children with overweight and obesity aged 5 years and under increases worldwide. Along with understanding the effectiveness of obesity interventions, it is important to understand the cost‐effectiveness of interventions over time. Objectives To estimate the long‐term health benefits and health care cost‐savings of reductions in BMI for the Australian population of children aged between 2 and 5 years. Methods A proportional multistate, multiple cohort lifetable model estimated the health benefits and health care cost‐savings related to hypothetical reductions in BMI, informed by a scoping review of systematic reviews reporting the effectiveness of obesity prevention interventions in preschool aged children. Results Results suggest significant potential for cost‐effectiveness of obesity prevention interventions in preschool‐aged children if intervention effect can be maintained. A relatively small population level reduction in BMI z‐score (−0.13 BMIz) in children aged 2 to 5 years would result in 36 496 health‐adjusted life years saved (95% uncertainty interval [UI], 30 283‐42 945) and health care cost‐savings of approximately $301 million (95% UI $234 million‐$369 million) if modelled over the lifetime. Conclusions Scenario results highlight the importance of obesity intervention in the early years of life.