Creating a collective impact on childhood obesity: Lessons from the SCOPE initiative

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Community Health Interventions
• Obesity Prevention

Background:

• Childhood obesity is a significant public health challenge requiring community-wide solutions.
• Multisectoral engagement is crucial for addressing complex health issues like childhood obesity.
• Community-based participatory research (CBPR) offers a framework for collaborative health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the processes used in the SCOPE initiative to achieve multisectoral engagement and collective action for childhood obesity prevention.
• To highlight how CBPR principles and Collective Impact conditions facilitate community-led health interventions.

Main Methods:

• The SCOPE initiative engaged representatives from diverse sectors (government, health, schools, recreation, media, early childhood, community services).
• Implemented in three British Columbia communities, SCOPE utilized a common evidence-based health message ('Live 5-2-1-0') to guide localized solutions.
• A central team facilitated alignment, knowledge translation, and shared data collection and analysis.

Main Results:

• Emergent best practices aligned with CBPR principles and the five conditions of Collective Impact.
• Achieved sustainable practice change through a common agenda and mutually reinforcing cross-sectoral action.
• Demonstrated successful community capacity building for promoting healthy weights in children.

Conclusions:

• A multi-pronged, community-led childhood obesity prevention initiative is feasible.
• Adherence to CBPR principles and Collective Impact conditions is key to success.
• This model can foster sustainable, localized solutions for promoting healthy weights.