The cost-effectiveness of a successful community-based obesity prevention program: the be active eat well program

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Multidisciplinary Approach to Obesity Management: A Case Report
05:10

Multidisciplinary Approach to Obesity Management: A Case Report

Published on: May 30, 2025

Marjory L Moodie1, Jessica K Herbert, Andrea M de Silva-Sanigorski

  • 1Deakin Health Economics, Deakin University, Australia.

Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.)
|April 5, 2013
PubMed

Insights

The Be Active Eat Well program was affordable and cost-effective for promoting healthy habits in Australian children. It demonstrated significant benefits in physical activity and healthy eating beyond its initial funding.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health Interventions
  • Childhood Obesity Prevention
  • Health Economics

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a significant public health concern requiring effective interventions.
  • Community-based programs promoting healthy eating and physical activity are crucial for long-term health.
  • Assessing the economic viability of such programs is essential for sustainable implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the Be Active Eat Well (BAEW) program.
  • To analyze the program's impact on children's health behaviors and outcomes.
  • To provide economic insights for scaling up successful childhood obesity prevention strategies.

Main Methods:

  • A quasi-experimental, longitudinal design with anthropometric data from 1001 children in the intervention group and 1183 in the comparator group.
  • A societal perspective was adopted, measuring intervention resource use and valuing outcomes in 2006 Australian dollars (AUD).
  • Outcomes were quantified as Body Mass Index (BMI) units saved and Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) averted, with cost-effectiveness ratios calculated.

Main Results:

  • The BAEW program incurred an annual cost of AUD0.34 million.
  • The intervention resulted in savings of 547 BMI units and 10.2 DALYs.
  • The net cost per DALY saved was AUD29,798, indicating cost-effectiveness.

Conclusions:

  • The Be Active Eat Well program was found to be affordable and cost-effective.
  • The program generated significant positive outcomes beyond its funding scope.
  • Identifying key success factors and potential cost efficiencies for scaling up is recommended.
Abstract

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