Background: Childhood obesity remains a population health priority, with increasing prevalence globally. This work aimed to determine whether a community-based healthy lifestyle program from Aotearoa/NZ could be scaled-out to Perth, WA, honoring place-based and cultural considerations. The pilot’s uniqueness is screening for weight-related comorbidities alongside the intervention (6 months of weekly sessions).
Methods: Multiple-methods type 2 hybrid study, testing acceptability and feasibility of program scale-out and participant outcomes. 1) Develop the adapted program pilot with key partners and cultural advisors for scale-out. Apply implementation strategies for pilot realisation. 2) Acceptability, appropriateness and feasibility. Evaluate pilot – participants aged 4-16 years with obesity. 3) Assess program scalability post-pilot.
Results: Adaptations from the NZ-based program included partnering with school-based health centres for checks, alongside home visits, ensuring program access and appropriateness, addressing health equity. 184 referrals were received aged 4-17 years, with 109 (59%) joining the program. Average BMI=99th percentile. High rates of comorbidities were seen. 22% of participants identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (population prevalence 3.3%), 37% reside in the most deprived quintile with high rates of food insecurity (28%). Interim data show 64% of participants had a reduction in BMI SDS at 6 months (mean -0.10).
Conclusion: This study demonstrated successful scale-out of an equitable community-based healthy lifestyle program, partnering with community and Elders. Scale-out of community-based multidisciplinary programs is possible. Future research includes participant outcomes at 12 months and costings analysis to consider program scale-up. Adaptation of existing programs with cultural and place-based considerations accelerates the “know-do” gap of research outcomes and clinical practice.