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Mobilising a rural community to lose weight: Impact evaluation of the WellingTonne Challenge
Author(s) -
Lyle David,
Hobba Janet,
Lloyd Karen,
Bennett Debbie,
George Trish,
Giddings Nicolla,
Griffin Norma,
Chew Patrick C. L.,
Harris Mark,
Heading Gaynor
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
australian journal of rural health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.48
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1440-1584
pISSN - 1038-5282
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1584.2008.00958.x
Subject(s) - overweight , government (linguistics) , intervention (counseling) , weight loss , gerontology , rural community , medicine , rural area , action (physics) , obesity , environmental health , psychology , political science , nursing , economic growth , economics , philosophy , linguistics , physics , pathology , quantum mechanics
Objective: To evaluate the impact of the WellingTonne Challenge.Design: Before–after study.Setting: The National Action Agenda for the prevention and control of obesity in Australia identified community action and development as a key theme. The WellingTonne Challenge was a whole‐of‐community project designed to support a small rural community to lose weight and reduce their risk of chronic disease.Participants: Adult residents of the Wellington Local Government Area who were overweight or obese.Results: The project successfully engaged the community with around 10% of the target group formally participating in the Challenge. Participants achieved a weight reduction of around 3 kg each, as well as positive changes in diet and physical activity. A total of 59% of those who signed up for the Challenge achieved an accumulated loss of 687 kg at the end of the 12‐week program – less than the community goal of 1000 kg.Conclusion: The WellingTonne Challenge is a promising intervention. Wider implementation of this approach in other small rural communities might make a significant contribution to the national effort. The opportunity should be taken to undertake a more rigorous evaluation to determine whether this approach benefits communities in the longer term.