Sustaining health obesity prevention programs: Lessons from real-world population settings

Current understanding of what sustains public health programs is derived primarily from evaluations of programs delivered for only a few years. To improve program planning and knowledge on program sustainment, we examined real-world population programs that have been delivered for >2 years. Our focus was physical activity and nutrition programs for obesity prevention. We identified programs through published literature and searched through publicly available information on the theoretical factors determining sustainment. We reviewed 90 programs and explored intervention characteristics, provider, delivery and process level factors, and the outer environment influences.

Programs were sustained on average 15 years and more frequently characterised as behavioural change skills programs targeting children, funded by non-government organisations and delivered by community organisations. Most programs had undergone some modification (n = 55). Differences between programs were observed across key factors: Programs sustained 15+ years were mainly behaviour skills programs (n = 21); and characterised by interactive designs (i.e., face-to-face or digital) over static innovations (i.e., print material) compared with those sustained <15 years (p = 0.024). While government funding supported many of the programs (n = 45;), those sustained 15+ years were more likely to have been commercially funded (p = 0.044); and were less likely to have current community involvement (p = 0.013). Differences in ownership and funding were also observed across countries. While multiple factors may influence program sustainment, longer delivered programs where distinguished by their program characteristics and outer contextual factors, suggesting such factors may have an important role in sustaining programs in the longer-term.