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adapted from a similar WHO tool and a set ofbest practice principles for community-based obe-sity prevention, aimed to determine the depth andbreadth of projects.

Full results from the survey will be pre-sented. Preliminary results show wide variationin Australian community-based obesity preven-tion projects. These initiatives differ between thestates of Australia in terms of number, location,funding, target group, strategies and evaluation.

Consistency in community-based obesity pre-vention projects in Australia is of national andinternational importance in addressing the currentobesity epidemic. There is potential for the tooldeveloped in this study to be applied to other coun-tries such that obesity prevention efforts can becompared and improved.

doi:10.1016/j.orcp.2010.09.046

P48

The association between participation in a4-month pedometer-based workplace physicalactivity program and health-related quality of life(HRQOL)

J. Harding ∗, R. Freak-Poli, A. Peeters

Department of Epidemiology and PreventiveMedicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

E-mail address: Jessica.Harding@monash.edu (J.Harding).

Recommended levels of physical activity (PA)are associated with a decreased risk for manychronic health conditions such as cardiovasculardisease, obesity and Type II diabetes. The use ofpedometer-based workplace programs is increas-ing to improve employee’s health. While there issome evidence that such programs increase physi-cal activity levels, their impact on health-relatedquality of life (HRQOL) is unknown. The aim of thefollowing study is to assess whether participationin a workplace PA program will lead to subsequentimprovements in HRQOL. For this study we use acohort of voluntary, educated adults employed inrelatively sedentary occupations. These employeeswere already enrolled in the GCC® evaluation study,examining the health benefits of participation inthe Global Corporate Challenge (GCC®).

Methods and results: 774 employees from 10workplaces across Melbourne participating in a

®

4-month workplace PA intervention (the GCC ) vol-unteered to participate in this evaluation study.Study participants had biomedical measurementstaken in the workplace and completed web-

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ased surveys including demographic information,ehavioural measures, physical activity, heath sta-us and quality of life. The validated SF-12 healthurvey was utilised to assess HRQOL. Data collectionas performed at baseline (prior to commencementf the GCC program) and at four months (at the endf the GCC program). This paper presents a beforend after analysis of HRQOL. Independent t-testshall be utilized to compare differences in HRQOLeasurements at baseline and 4 months. Analy-

es shall assess differences between baseline andmonths for overall HRQOL, the physical compo-

ents scores (PCS), the mental components scoresMCS) and potential further break-down scores ofhe SF-12. Further analysis stratifying by age andex shall be undertaken.

Future implications: It is unknown whether par-icipation in a program such as the GCC® will lead ton increase in HRQOL in both the short and longer-erm. This study will lead to a further understandingf the effects of participation in workplace physicalctivity programs so that future public health ini-iatives can be directed at successful interventionso increase physical activity and associated HRQOL.

Conflicts of interest: none.

oi:10.1016/j.orcp.2010.09.047

49

ood marketing to children complaints registry-elping parents navigate self-regulation

endy Watson 1,∗, Kathy Chapman 1, Nicolangold 2, Sarah Mackay 3, Jane Martin 3

Cancer Council NSW, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaNSW Health, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaObesity Policy Coalition, Melbourne, Vic, Aus-ralia

Energy-dense nutrient-poor (EDNP) food andeverage advertising directed at children has beendentified as a probable causal factor in weight gainnd obesity. Combined with other interventions,educing children’s exposure to this type of adver-ising has been identified as a target for preventivection.

Currently in Australia, food marketing to chil-ren is regulated through a mixed approach of bothtatutory regulation and industry self-regulation.his mixed regulatory system fails to provide aoordinated and comprehensive arrangement, butather results in a complex and confusing system,

hich relies on public complaints to monitor com-liance.

Cancer Council NSW established the Food Mar-eting Complaints Registry in June 2010 to provide

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oster Abstracts

single point of entry for the public who areoncerned about food marketing. It provides infor-ation on Australian statutory regulations and

ndustry self-regulation covering all forms of mediancluding television, print, sports sponsorship andhe internet. The registry outlines the complaintsrocess and enables consumers to make informedomplaints.

The registry acts as a centre for the collectionf data reflecting public concern about food mar-eting to children, and a record of outcomes fromormal complaints processes to regulators. Data willrovide an indicator of the effectiveness or other-ise of current regulations and any unmet need forational statutory regulation to reduce children’sxposure to EDNP food marketing. The conferenceresentation will describe the establishment andnitial activity of the registry.

oi:10.1016/j.orcp.2010.09.048

50

hings are a’ changing: Fat acceptance and theuture of obesity

incy Li 1,∗, Stacy M. Carter 1,2, Lucie Rychetnik 1,2

Centre for Values, Ethics and Law in Medicine, Theniversity of Sydney, NSW, AustraliaSydney School of Public Health, The University ofydney, NSW, Australia

Until the 1980s, weight was primarily an issuef aesthetics. Only morbidly obese people wereabelled ‘obese’ and obesity management was a pri-ate matter between individuals and their doctors,llied health practitioners or commercial weight-oss services. Over the last 30 years, obesity hasecome a Federal and State health priority, withreat concern expressed about its prevalence andosts. Obesity has become an ‘epidemic’ and ournvironments have been characterised as ‘obeso-enic’. Once a personal matter, weight has becomesocial and moral concern, with the media continu-lly offering Australians numerous stories, statisticsnd solutions regarding weight.

Against this backdrop, the Fat Studies movementas emerged to critique the underlying assump-ions, prejudices and ramifications of obesity-elated beliefs and practices in medicine, politicsnd the wider population. It is argued that weight isn inaccurate basis for predicting individual health,nd public health interventions focused on weight-

oss as the primary outcome are seen as threats tondividuals’ wellbeing. Through exploring the Fattudies response to obesity as a social, medical andublic health problem, we examine the implica-

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ions of this emerging radical voice for the healthector and the future of obesity prevention andanagement.

oi:10.1016/j.orcp.2010.09.049

51

valuation of community-based obesity preven-ion initiatives: Current practice vs. best practice

.S. Nichols ∗, R.C. Reynolds, S. Allender, C.oulkes, B.A. Swinburn

WHO Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention,eakin University, Australia

Background: Community-based approaches fromn important component of the response to highevels of obesity. Large Australian demonstrationrograms with academic partnerships currentlyead the world in generating evidence of theffectiveness of such approaches. There are also,owever, a wide range of programs of varying sizend scope occurring across the country and less isnown about the evaluation in place for these pro-rams and the potential for capturing the lessonsearnt through a wide range of actions.

Aims: The aims of this study are: (1) to exam-ne reported evaluation practices in a sample ofustralian community-based obesity prevention ini-iatives in relation to best practice guidelines and2) to identify gaps and limitations in current prac-ice and priorities for professional development andupport for practitioners.

Methods: A national survey has been conductedo gather details about a sample of Australianommunity-based obesity prevention initiatives.urvey questions including details of evaluationlans and practices in relation to an Australiannd an international (WHO) best practice guide forommunity-based obesity prevention.

Conclusions: Improved evaluation of communityased obesity prevention initiatives in Australia willccelerate the generation of knowledge and trans-ation to improved practice. Analysing data that areonsistently collected across a range of initiativesas the potential to generate important evidencef effective and ineffective elements of commu-ity interventions. Identifying major gaps in currentvaluation practices will have important implica-ions for support which may be required in ordero develop this important component of Australia’sesponse to obesity and chronic disease.

This initiative is funded by the Australian Gov-rnment Department of Health and Ageing.

oi:10.1016/j.orcp.2010.09.050