Brazil's national strategy to prevent childhood obesity and to promote healthier cities (Proteja) - WHO Compendium Report on Multisectoral Action

The Brazilian Strategy to Prevent and Care for Childhood Obesity (Proteja) encompasses a comprehensive selection of 61 predefined multisectoral actions to address childhood obesity.

This case study describes how multisectoral action enhanced the implementation of Proteja at the municipal level. The municipality leads implementation of multisectoral actions based on a multisectoral municipal action plan while the federal and state health sectors provide technical support and monitor progress. A technical officer and multisectoral working group coordinate the multisectoral collaboration across different municipal secretaries, especially between health and education, and facilitate networking among sectors and stakeholders. Various activities were used to build relationships with different stakeholders such seminars and virtual communities of practice workshops.

Having dedicated funding and personnel at the municipal level supported capacity-building and coordination. The development and implementation of multisectoral actions thorough multisectoral collaboration within Proteja successfully progressed efforts to address childhood obesity in municipalities in Brazil. Examples of outcomes included new municipal legislation on unhealthy food sales in schools and increased capacity of municipalities to implement multisectoral actions. Financial support and specified time to be dedicated to the multisectoral action as well as provisions of incentives and rewards for stakeholders outside the health sector would improve engagement with multisectoral collaboration.  

Knowledge

Compendium report on multisectoral actions for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases and mental health conditions: country case studies

This country story is a brief excerpt taken from the detailed country case study in the WHO Compendium report on multisectoral actions for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases and mental health conditions. Read the full report or access the country story via below link.