Challenges in assessing the implementation and effectiveness of physical activity and nutrition policy interventions as natural experiments

Health Promotion International
S RamanathanJohn J M Dwyer

Abstract

The Ontario (Canada) government has instituted a policy requiring elementary schools to offer at least 20 min of daily physical activity for students in Grades 1-8 and replace non-nutritious vending machine foods with healthier choices. These policy interventions represent 'natural experiments' offering unique opportunities for conducting research and evaluation. The use of natural experiments to contribute evidence on the effectiveness of policy interventions is identified as an underused tool for public health [Tudor-Locke, C., Ainsworth, B. E. and Popkin, B. M. (2001) Active commuting to school: an overlooked source of children's physical activity? Sports Medicine, 31, 309-313; Petticrew, M., Cummins, S., Ferrell, C., Findlay, A., Higgins, C., Hoy, C. et al. (2005) Natural experiments: an underused tool for public health? Public Health, 119, 751-757]. To date, some Canadian school-based food and nutrition policies are being monitored, but their impact on child and youth obesity is unknown [Canadian Institute for Health Information. (2006) Improving the Health of Canadians: Promoting Healthy Weights, Ottawa, ON]. There are a number of challenges to the evaluation of policy interventions as natural experiments. Often, there ar...Continue Reading

References

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Citations

Feb 27, 2013·Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism = Physiologie Appliquée, Nutrition Et Métabolisme·Melisa ComteUNKNOWN MIPASS and Healthy Hearts Investigators Teams
Oct 9, 2013·BMC Public Health·Anita KothariUNKNOWN Renewal of Public Health Systems Research Team
Aug 24, 2013·The International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity·Andrew James WilliamsKatrina Mary Wyatt
Jun 12, 2012·Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism·Shauna M DownsLinda J McCargar
Jun 15, 2010·Schizophrenia Research·Tony CohnGuy E Faulkner
Sep 3, 2009·The Journal of Adolescent Health : Official Publication of the Society for Adolescent Medicine·Cristina S BarrosoDeanna M Hoelscher
Jan 25, 2013·The Journal of School Health·Anjali Jain, Casey Langwith
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Oct 16, 2014·Sports Medicine·Klaus GebelJames F Sallis
Aug 10, 2017·Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics : the Official Journal of the British Dietetic Association·A M Dos S RodriguesA V M Ferreira
Mar 18, 2016·Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne De Santé Publique·Kenneth R AllisonBessie Ng
Apr 21, 2017·Canadian Journal of Public Health = Revue Canadienne De Santé Publique·Michelle M VineScott T Leatherdale
Feb 3, 2018·BMC Public Health·Richard LaroucheGuy Faulkner
Sep 20, 2019·The International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity·Melissa N LaskaDarin J Erickson

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