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The potential for long-term cost-effectiveness of obesity prevention interventions in the early years of life

Version 2 2024-06-05, 03:58
Version 1 2019-03-05, 10:59
journal contribution
posted on 2024-06-05, 03:58 authored by Victoria BrownVictoria Brown, Jaithri AnanthapavanJaithri Ananthapavan, D Sonntag, EJ Tan, A Hayes, Marj MoodieMarj Moodie
BACKGROUND: Early childhood obesity prevention is gaining increasing importance, as the prevalence of children with overweight and obesity aged 5 years and under increases worldwide. Along with understanding the effectiveness of obesity interventions, it is important to understand the cost-effectiveness of interventions over time. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the long-term health benefits and health care cost-savings of reductions in BMI for the Australian population of children aged between 2 and 5 years. METHODS: A proportional multistate, multiple cohort lifetable model estimated the health benefits and health care cost-savings related to hypothetical reductions in BMI, informed by a scoping review of systematic reviews reporting the effectiveness of obesity prevention interventions in preschool aged children. RESULTS: Results suggest significant potential for cost-effectiveness of obesity prevention interventions in preschool-aged children if intervention effect can be maintained. A relatively small population level reduction in BMI z-score (-0.13 BMIz) in children aged 2 to 5 years would result in 36 496 health-adjusted life years saved (95% uncertainty interval [UI], 30 283-42 945) and health care cost-savings of approximately $301 million (95% UI $234 million-$369 million) if modelled over the lifetime. CONCLUSIONS: Scenario results highlight the importance of obesity intervention in the early years of life.

History

Journal

Pediatric Obesity

Volume

14

Article number

ARTN e12517

Pagination

1 - 10

Location

England

ISSN

2047-6302

eISSN

2047-6310

Language

English

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2019, World Obesity Federation

Issue

8

Publisher

WILEY