Status report -- Identifying equity-focussed interventions to promote healthy weights

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Equity
• Obesity Prevention

Background:

• Developed screening criteria to identify population health interventions with an equity focus.
• Applied criteria to "healthy weights" and obesity prevention for the Canadian Best Practices Portal.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and appraise population health interventions with an equity focus for inclusion on the Canadian Best Practices Portal.
• Specifically focused on obesity prevention strategies.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a literature review and expert consultations on midstream environmental changes.
• Included studies focusing on equity, vulnerable populations, social determinants of health, and obesity prevention.
• Appraised shortlisted studies for evidence quality to determine eligibility.

Main Results:

• Few reviewed papers met the equity screening criteria (0.9%, 26 out of 2823).
• Six interventions qualified as promising practices for the Canadian Best Practices Portal.

Conclusions:

• Equity screening criteria effectively distinguished midstream interventions for obesity prevention, suggesting broader applicability.
• The Canadian Best Practices Portal was enhanced to include interventions with an equity focus.