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Contribution of formative research to design an environmental program for obesity prevention in schools in Mexico
Anabelle Bonvecchio1, Florence L Théodore1, Margarita Safdie2
1Centro de Investigación en Nutrición y Salud, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.
Objective:
This paper describes the methods and key findings of formative research conducted to design a school-based program for obesity prevention.
Materials And Methods:
Formative research was based on the ecological model and the principles of social marketing. A mixed method approach was used. Qualitative (direct observation, indepth interviews, focus group discussions and photo-voice) and quantitative (closed ended surveys, checklists, anthropometry) methods were employed.
Results:
Formative research key findings, including barriers by levels of the ecological model, were used for designing a program including environmental strategies to discourage the consumption of energy dense foods and sugar beverages.
Conclusion:
Formative research was fundamental to developing a context specific obesity prevention program in schools that seeks environment modification and behavior change.
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