The Vivons en Forme (VIF) program, tested in 250 small French towns, has proven to be very effective in helping children with obesity lose weight.
- To fight childhood obesity, 250 small French towns took part in the VIF program (Vivons En Forme).
- 50% of overweight/obese children who benefited from the actions of the VIF® program improved their weight status.
A new French study published in the international journal BMC (BioMed Central) Public Health highlights the improvement in the weight status of overweight or obese children who have benefited from the actions of the VIF program® (Live in Shape). This is the first time that scientific results obtained over such a long period indicate a relatively lasting decrease in this prevalence and not a simple stabilization, validating the interest of this method based on social marketing.
This program encompasses the entire living environment of the child
Deployed by FLVS, a non-profit association, the VIF program aims to prevent overweight and obesity in children to contribute to their good health. Implemented in more than 250 French cities, this prevention program encompasses the entire living environment of the child and mobilizes all the actors who can act on a daily basis to help him preserve his health.
The aim of the study was to measure the evolution of overweight/obesity over 4 years in children who had benefited from the actions of the VIF programme. For this experiment, 827 children attending school in four towns of less than 100,000 inhabitants, members of the VIF program, were weighed twice, at the beginning (CP) and at the end of primary school (CM2). Results: 50% of overweight or obese children who benefited from the actions of the VIF program improved their weight status. In 2011, 20% of children were overweight or obese. Four years later, only 16% were.
“It’s a very nice multidisciplinary program”
These good results were observed regardless of the sex of the child and his schooling (in the ZEP zone or not), which suggests that the program “rubber” social inequalities and gives equal opportunities to all.
“In concrete terms, being a VIF city means taking into account malnutrition and the lack of physical activity and proposing appropriate solutions, says the mayor Les Républicains de Saint-Quentin, Frédérique Macarez. It’s a very nice multidisciplinary program, with turnkey files of proposed activities. It resulted in: actions implemented in schools, an adapted sports group for obese children, training of nursery staff and school canteens, the organization of physical and sports activity nutrition week, testifies the chosen one. We obtained very conclusive results on the reduction of overweight and obesity in Saint-Quentin, in particular in the priority districts. The figures speak for themselves: – 6.6% in 8 years; they highlight the importance of having a local anchoring of the action in favor of healthy eating and physical activity”, Frederique Macarez analysis.
Childhood overweight is hard to reverse
Once it sets in, childhood overweight is hard to reverse. It often persists into adulthood and can then cause multiple health problems. One in five children is overweight or obese in France, with a higher prevalence in the most vulnerable populations. Twenty-four percent of workers’ children, for example, are overweight and 8% are obese, compared to 12% and 3% respectively of managerial children.
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