Assessing readiness for childhood obesity prevention in German municipalities

Application of the community readiness model

Datos Bibliográficos

ID22945389
AutoresMaike Schröder (0000-0002-7331-5885, Osnabrück University, autor de correspondencia), Birgit Babitsch (0000-0002-8722-3332, Osnabrück University), H Hassel (0000-0003-1310-1620, Coburg University of Applied Sciences)
Año2023
Volumen38
Número6
Fecha de publicación2023-12-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaHealth Promotion International (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0957-4824 • E-ISSN: 1460-2245
EditorialOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1093/heapro/daad169
PMID38071434
OpenAlexW4389515351
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas1
Referencias citadas36

The World Health Organization has identified childhood obesity as one of the most serious public health problems of the 21st century. Understanding a municipality’s readiness to address it is crucial to achieve successful interventions. However, the preparedness of German municipalities to address childhood obesity has not yet been investigated. This study is the first in Germany to apply the community readiness model (CRM) in this context. The purpose was to determine readiness of five municipalities for childhood obesity prevention and to identify factors that influence their readiness. Therefore, 27 semi-structured key informant interviews were conducted. First, the interviews were analysed following the CRM protocol to categorize the municipalities into a readiness level between one and nine. In a second step, a content analysis was carried out for an in-depth interpretation of the readiness scores. The municipalities achieved an average readiness of 3.84, corresponding to the ‘Vague Awareness’ stage. A lack of prioritization and leadership support, insufficient low-threshold efforts, a lack of knowledge and problem awareness as well as a lack of structures and resources were identified as factors that can determine municipal readiness to prevent childhood obesity. This study not only extends the application of the CRM to childhood obesity in German municipalities but also offers practical implications for professionals in assessing readiness.

Business · Categorization · Childhood obesity · Context (archaeology) · Environmental health · Geography · German · Obesity · Overweight · Political science · Preparedness · Prioritization · Process management · Psychological intervention · Public health · Applied Psychology · Community Health and Development · Computer Science · Health Policy Implementation Science · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology · School Health and Nursing Education