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

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 pound/US$10.01) per child from a public sector perspective and 536.95 Yuan (106 pound/US$151) from a societal perspective. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was 272.7 Yuan (54 pound/US$77)/BMI z-score change. The ICER was 8,888 Yuan (1,760 pound/US$2,502) and 73,831 Yuan (14,620 pound/US$20,796) per QALY from a public sector and societal perspective, respectively and was cost-effective using UK (20,000) pound 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.