Mexico (2010): Obesity Prevention. Evaluating "Alivianate" Event for the Promotion of Physical Activity and Water Intake among Youth Aged 14-18 Years in Toluca.

The ultimate goal was to increase the frequency of physical activity and substitution of sugar beverages for water intake. As a first step, PSI-Mexico conducted a qualitative study with youth in Toluca. The purpose was to identify the social and economic context in which overweight and obesity are experienced among young people (Hemmings and Ospina, 2009). That study, as well as conversations with experts and a literature review, helped the programmatic and research teams building a conceptual framework for the intervention (See appendix). After identifying different factors affecting the outcome variables and their inter- relationship, PSI-Mexico designed a two day event called Alivianate, whose main objectives were to promote positive attitudes toward water intake and physical activity. The main message spread out during the event was that there is a physical activity for everybody and that it is fun to do physical activity. During the event, enrolled youth had the opportunity to drink water instead of soft drinks. Communication material was developed prior to the event in order to encourage registratrion into Alivianate. Peer promoters helped to disseminate these communication materials. During the event peer promoters also provided information about the importance of physical activity and water intake in everyday life. The study design corresponds to a quasi-experimental study with comparison and intervention groups. In this study design, participant population was divided between a group of participants exposed to the intervention and another not exposed (comparison).