International Journal of Public Health (Aug 2021)

Cost-Effectiveness of a School-and Family-Based Childhood Obesity Prevention Programme in China: The “CHIRPY DRAGON” Cluster-Randomised Controlled Trial

  • Mandana Zanganeh,
  • Peymane Adab,
  • Bai Li,
  • Miranda Pallan,
  • Wei Jia Liu,
  • Karla Hemming,
  • Rong Lin,
  • Wei Liu,
  • James Martin,
  • Kar Keung Cheng,
  • Emma Frew

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/ijph.2021.1604025
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 66

Abstract

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Objectives: Rapid socioeconomic and nutrition transitions in Chinese populations have contributed to the growth in childhood obesity. This study presents a cost-effectiveness analysis of a school- and family-based childhood obesity prevention programme in China.Methods: A trial-based economic evaluation assessed cost-effectiveness at 12 months. Forty schools with 1,641 children were randomised to either receive the multi-component (diet and physical activity) intervention or to continue with usual activities. Both public sector and societal perspectives were adopted. Costs and benefits in the form of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were compared and uncertainty was assessed using established UK and US thresholds.Results: The intervention cost was 35.53 Yuan (£7.04/US$10.01) per child from a public sector perspective and 536.95 Yuan (£106/US$151) from a societal perspective. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was 272.7 Yuan (£54/US$77)/BMI z-score change. The ICER was 8,888 Yuan (£1,760/US$2,502) and 73,831 Yuan (£14,620/US$20,796) per QALY from a public sector and societal perspective, respectively and was cost-effective using UK (£20,000) and US (US$50,000) per QALY thresholds.Conclusion: A multi-component school-based prevention programme is a cost-effective means of preventing childhood obesity in China.

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