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: Objective: To report the prevalence of healthy weight and related behaviours among Victorian Aboriginal and non‐Aboriginal children and explore associations between these factors and health‐related quality of life (HRQoL). Methods: Analysis of cross‐sectional data from two cluster randomised controlled trials using logistic and linear mixed models. The sample included Aboriginal (n=303) and non‐Aboriginal (n=3,026) children aged 8–13 years. Results: More than two‐thirds of Aboriginal children met guidelines for fruit (75.9%), sweetened drinks (66.7%), sleep (73.1%), screen time (67.7%) and objectively measured physical activity (83.6%); and 79.1% reported consuming take‐away foods less than once per week. Aboriginal children were more likely to meet vegetable consumption guidelines (OR=1.42, 95%CI: 1.05, 1.93), but less likely to have a healthy weight (OR=0.66, 95%CI: 0.52, 0.85) than non‐Aboriginal children. Mean HRQoL scores were significantly higher among non‐Aboriginal children and both Aboriginal and non‐Aboriginal children meeting health guidelines. Conclusions: Most Aboriginal children in this study met guidelines for fruit, physical activity, screen time and sleep, and those meeting these guidelines had significantly higher HRQoL. Implications for public health: Promoting nutrition, physical activity and sleep is likely to benefit all children. Aboriginal community‐controlled organisations can use these data to design culturally‐specific programs that may improve disparities in healthy weight and HRQoL., Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have lived on the lands, now known as Australia, for over 65,000 years, and are one of the world's oldest continuous populations.[sup.1] Compared to [...]

Background: Over a quarter of children aged 2–17 years living in Australia are overweight or obese, with a higher prevalence reported in regional and remote communities. Systems thinking approaches that seek to support communities to generate and implement locally appropriate solutions targeting intertwined environmental, political, sociocultural, and individual determinants of obesity have the potential to ameliorate this. There have however been reported challenges with implementation of such initiatives, which may be strengthened by incorporating implementation science methods. Methods: This pilot randomised controlled trial protocol outlines the development and proposed evaluation of a multicomponent implementation strategy (Action-RESPOND). to increase the implementation of community-based systems thinking child obesity prevention initiatives The target of this intervention is ten rural and regional communities (or local government areas as the unit of allocation) within Northeast Victoria who were participants in a whole-of-systems intervention (RESPOND). Action-RESPOND builds on this intervention by assessing the impact of offering additional implementation strategies to five communities relative to usual care. The development of the multicomponent implementation strategy was informed by the Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (PARIHS) framework and consists of seven implementation strategies primarily delivered via 'facilitation' methods. Implementation strategies aimed to ensure initiatives implemented are i) evidence-based, ii) address community's specific needs and iii) are suitable for local context. Strategies also aimed to increase the community's capacity to implement, through iv) improving the health promotion team's implementation knowledge and skills, fostering v) leadership, vi) physical resources and vii) community culture to drive implementation. The feasibility, acceptability, potential impact, and cost of the strategy will be assessed at baseline and follow up using surveys administered to key representatives within the community and internal records maintained by the research team. Discussion: By leveraging an existing community-based whole-of-systems intervention, Action-RESPOND offers a unique opportunity to collect pilot feasibility and early empirical data on how to apply implementation and systems science approaches to support obesity prevention in rural and regional communities in Victoria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Childhood obesity prevention initiatives are complex interventions that aim to improve children's obesity‐related behaviors and provide health promoting environments. These interventions often impact individuals, communities, and outcomes not primarily targeted by the intervention or policy. To accurately capture the effectiveness and cost‐effectiveness of childhood obesity prevention interventions, an understanding of the broader impacts (or spillover effects) is required. This systematic review aims to assess the spillover effects of childhood obesity prevention interventions. Methods: Six academic databases and two trial registries were searched (2007–2023) to identify studies reporting quantifiable obesity‐related and other outcomes in individuals or communities not primarily targeted by an obesity prevention intervention. Critical appraisal was undertaken for studies that reported statistically significant findings, and a narrative synthesis of the data was undertaken. Results: Twenty academic studies and 41 trial records were included in the synthesis. The most commonly reported spillovers were diet or nutrition‐related, followed by BMI and physical activity/sedentary behavior. Spillovers were mostly reported in parents/caregivers followed by other family members. Nine of the 20 academic studies reported statistically significant spillover effects. Conclusion: Limited evidence indicates that positive spillover effects of childhood obesity prevention interventions can be observed in parents/caregivers and families of targeted participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aims investigate the relationship between participants' neighbourhood perceptions and social capital and resident well-being using data from the Neighbourhood Renewal Project (NRP; n = 7855). Resident well-being was positively associated with the quality of the physical environment and safety of the neighbourhood, but negatively associated with government trustworthiness and community connections. Life satisfaction had a positive relationship with community connections, resident well-being, as well as quality of community services and safety. We conclude that free or low-cost opportunities to engage and connect with neighbours through participation in activities such as sporting groups, volunteer organizations, and leisure/hobby groups may increase life satisfaction of individuals in a neighbourhood, particularly for those living in low socioeconomic or stigmatized areas. (Contains 5 tables.)