Epode Background

• Childhood obesity can be prevented: from FLVS study to the EPODE methodology
• Fleurbaix Laventie Ville Santé (FLVS) Study
• From FLVS to EPODE
• EPODE, an innovative methodology
• More details on the EPODE methodology

More details on the EPODE methodology

The EPODE methodology, initiated and developed in France in 2004, is inspired by other international community and school-based interventions, and in particular the Fleurbaix Laventie Ville Santé Study (FLVS). FLVS is a long-term intervention pilot study which was carried out by a French non-governmental organisation (FLVS NGO) between 1992 and 2004 in two cities in the north of France. It led to the stabilisation of the prevalence of childhood obesity in the two involved cities (Romon & Al., 2008).

FLVS NGO decided to upscale its experiences developed in its cities since 1992 and asked a professional company specialised in methods and social marketing (PROTEINES), which was involved in the study as well, to design and set up an innovative methodology and programme respecting the national French guidelines: EPODE.

The EPODE methodology is based on four main pillars (from which the EEN (EPODE European Network) pillars originate as well):

• a strong political will
• a sound scientific background
• a social marketing approach
• a multi-stakeholder approach

Local stakeholders are involved to build up a sustainable environment that facilitates the adoption of a healthy life style:

Children, parents, health professionals, politicians, retailers, restaurants, media, etc.

EPODE is a long-term programme and methodology embedded into the daily life of the family and its constraints. It is a positive, concrete and step-by-step learning process, in line with the related national recommendations, in France the French national plan on nutrition and health (PNNS).

EPODE is a behaviour-centred approach, with an educational philosophy prompting fun and non-stigmatization of any food and behaviours. The programme aims at contributing to the stabilisation or decrease of the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children.

In practice

To put the EPODE methodology into practice, a national coordination team using social marketing and organisational techniques trains and coaches a local project manager nominated by the mayor (or other local champion able to lead the programme) to mobilize local stakeholders (see figure 1 below).

Figure 1: EPODE organization àt local level

Dedicated tools and methods (see figure 2 below) are prepared by the National Coordination team and delivered to the project manager who will disseminate the communication tools and encourage all kind of local stakeholder to change their professional practices, little by little, in order to create environments facilitating the adoption by children and their families of healthier behaviours.

Figure 2: example of a set of EPODE communication tools and roadmaps prepared for a semester devoted to promoting play and fun through physical activity

For the purpose, the local project manager can build up on existing network or can establish new networks and coordinates a local multidisciplinary steering committee (education, school catering, sports, health, community life, etc) (see figure 1 above).

The national coordination team operates under the supervision of a committee of independent experts and in collaboration with professionals in the fields of education, psychology, sociology, sports and nutrition etc.

This methodology enables the entire community (teachers, school catering, health professionals, parents, media...) to contribute to creating a healthy environment that facilitates the social changes required.