Guidance

About this guidance

About this guidance

What evidence is the guidance based on?

The evidence that the Programme Development Group (PDG) considered included:

  • Evidence reviews:

    • Review 1: 'Effectiveness and cost effectiveness of lifestyle weight management services for children and young people', was carried out by Support Unit for Research Evidence (SURE), Cardiff University. The principal authors were: Fiona Morgan, Alison Weightman, (SURE, Cardiff University) Sarah Whitehead (DECIPHer, Cardiff University) and Sinead Brophy (DECIPHer, Swansea University).

    • Review 2: 'The barriers and facilitators to implementing lifestyle weight management programmes for children and young people', was carried out by SURE, Cardiff University. The principal authors were: Ruth Turley, Alison Weightman, (SURE, Cardiff University), Elizabeth Halstead (Bangor University) and Helen Morgan (SURE, Cardiff University).

  • Economic modelling: 'Managing overweight and obesity among children economic modelling report', was carried out by the UK Health Forum, (formerly the National Heart Forum) and the University of East Anglia. The principal authors were: Martin Brown, Tim Marsh and Ketevan Rtveladze (UK Health Forum) and Ric Fordham (University of East Anglia).

  • Commissioned report: 'Practical and process issues in the provision of lifestyle weight management services for children and young people', was carried out by GK Research. The author was Graham Kelly.

  • Expert papers:

    • Expert paper 1: 'Findings of the former Childhood Obesity National Support Team' by Kim Hastie, Head of former Childhood Obesity National Support Team.

    • Expert paper 2 'Implications of the transition of public health responsibilities to local government' by Helen Walters, Greater London Authority

    • Expert paper 3 'Psychological considerations for lifestyle weight management programmes for children and young people, and the use of behaviour change theories' by Andrew Hill, University of Leeds

    • Expert paper 4 'Choosing outcome measures for lifestyle weight management programmes for children' by Maria Bryant, University of Leeds

    • Expert paper 5 'A population-level evaluation of a family-based community intervention for childhood overweight and obesity' by Catherine Law and Helen Roberts, Institute of Child Health, University College, London

    • Expert paper 6 'Effective Behavioural Components for Childhood weight management programmes' by Pinki Sahota, Leeds Metropolitan University.

In some cases, the evidence was insufficient and the PDG has made recommendations for future research.