Interventions for preventing obesity in children.

Background: Prevention of childhood obesity is an international public health priority given the significant impact of obesity on acute and chronic diseases, general health, development and well-being. The international evidence base for strategies that governments, communities and families can implement to prevent obesity, and promote health, has been accumulating but remains unclear.

Objectives: This review primarily aims to update the previous Cochrane review of childhood obesity prevention research and determine the effectiveness of evaluated interventions intended to prevent obesity in children, assessed by change in Body Mass Index (BMI).

Government food service policies and guidelines do not create healthy school canteens.

Objective: In 2006, the Victorian Government adopted the School Canteens and other school Food Services (SCFS) Policy that bans the sale of sweet drinks and confectionary and recommends the proportions of menu items based on a traffic light system of food classification. This study aims to determine whether compliance with the policy improves the nutritional profile of the menus.

Methods: Items from food service menus were assessed for compliance with the SCFS policy and categorised as 'everyday' ('green'), 'select carefully' ('amber') or 'occasionally' ('red') (n=106).

Evaluation of the childhood obesity prevention program Kids--'Go for your life'.

Background: Kids--'Go for your life' (K-GFYL) is an award-based health promotion program being implemented across Victoria, Australia. The program aims to reduce the risk of childhood obesity by improving the socio-cultural, policy and physical environments in children's care and educational settings. Membership of the K-GFYL program is open to all primary and pre-schools and early childhood services across the State.

UNCROC and the prevention of childhood obesity: the right not to have food advertisements on television.

This article discusses how legal rights-based discourse could inform the response of Australian State and federal governments to the increasing prevalence of childhood obesity. The authors contend that the principles in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (a treaty which has been ratified but not implemented) are capable of providing a basis for a legislative program to prevent childhood obesity. It is argued that an approach to legislation which is grounded on the basis of children's rights would require that there be restrictions on advertising food to children.

Primary care funding and organisational policy options and implications: a narrative review of evidence from five comparator countries.

Objective: To review innovative models of primary care in different countries in order to identify potential mechanisms for reforming primary care policy in Australia.

Methods: We conducted a narrative review and synthesis of evidence about models of primary care from four English-speaking comparator countries (New Zealand, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States) and one European country (The Netherlands), with a particular focus on the relevance and applicability of these models to Australia.

Results: We identified four key mechanisms for bringing about reform in primary care: flexible funding, quality frameworks, regional-level primary care organisations, and primary care infrastructure.

Older people's relationships with companion animals: a pilot study.

When older people enter residential care facilities, disruption to social networks may occur, with detrimental effects on health and wellbeing. This article reports on a study undertaken in an aged care facility in Melbourne, Australia, that explored the potential for a visiting companion animal programme to improve the health and wellbeing of residents and to promote their capacity for building relationships. Results back assertions in the literature that companion animals foster relationships by giving people opportunities to interact with others, but further study is needed to verify the link.