Childhood overweight and obesity management: A national perspective of primary health care providers' views, practices, perceived barriers and needs.

Background: Obesity and overweight in children are an escalating problem in Canada and worldwide. Currently, little is known about the manner in which primary health care providers are responding to Canada's obesity epidemic.

Objective: To determine the views, practices, challenges/barriers, and needs of a national sample of family physicians (FPs) and community paediatricians (CPs) with respect to paediatric obesity identification and management.

Healthier snacks in school vending machines: a pilot project in four Ontario high schools.

Purpose: The Healthy Vending Machine Pilot Project (HVMPP) was a public health initiative intended to create a healthier school nutrition environment by making healthier snacks available in vending machines, while maintaining a profit margin. The HVMPP was evaluated using quantitative and qualitative measures.

Methods: Vending machines were stocked with healthier choices and conventional vending products at a 50:50 ratio.

Healthy eating champions award for elementary schools.

Purpose: The Healthy Eating Champions Award for Elementary Schools (HEC) is a public health initiative that recognizes and rewards schools for their outstanding commitment to the promotion of nutrition, for nutrition education, and for making healthy foods and beverages available. This process evaluation assessed HEC implementation, identified benefits and barriers, and solicited suggestions for program improvement.

Methods: In-person interviews with principals or their designates from 28 HEC participating schools were conducted in fall 2006.