In The Buzz

Evaluation of British Columbia (B.C.) wide implementation and scale-up of MEND 7-13 in Canada reports significant health improvements

adminby admin
Evaluation of a British Columbia (B.C.) wide implementation and scale-up of MEND 7-13 in Canada finds over 80% attendance and significant improvements in BMIz, nutrition behaviors, physical activity levels, hours of screen time and emotional distress.
Now more than ever, effective responses to obesity in childhood and adolescence are needed. Results of a 4 year independant trial, evaluating MEND when delivered to 987 children and adolescents at 27 sites in all 5 B.C. health regions, found positive health and psychosocial outcomes across the board.
Attendance and retention, key metrics of program acceptability, were 82% and 77%, respectively.
This helps reconfirm that MEND remains the most highly evaluated, community-based response to obesity in childhood and adolescence. Evaluations span almost 20 years, with peer-reviewed trials in the UK, USA, CA, AUS, and the NL.