The Evaluation Platform on Obesity Prevention (EPOP) was created by the Université Laval and the Québec Heart and Lung Institute (IUCPQ) in 2010 with financial support from the Lucie et André Chagnon Foundation. The EPOP brings together a multidisciplinary team of researchers from the Obesity-type 2 diabetes-metabolism component working on obesity prevention at the population level. The EPOP’s activities mainly focus on assessing the impacts of policies, programs and interventions (private, public and community-based) aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles and preventing obesity in the province of Quebec.
Mission
To develop expertise in populational research on obesity prevention, conduct evaluation studies and promote the culture of impact assessment in the fields of healthy lifestyle promotion and obesity prevention in the province of Quebec.*
Objectives
- Take a critical look at the Quebec Experience** in terms of obesity prevention in the province of Quebec in order to support government authorities and stakeholders with decision-making processes.
- Conduct studies aiming to examine determinants of healthy lifestyle habits and chronic diseases related to obesity for intervention planning.
- Conduct health impact assessments (HIA) on urban planning projects.
- Evaluate intervention implementation and knowledge mobilization processes.
- Develop original data collection methods and tools to facilitate research on obesity prevention and its determinants.
- Contribute to graduate students’ training on healthy lifestyles and obesity prevention in the province of Québec.
*The field of obesity prevention addresses lifestyle habits associated with weight management, mainly physical activity and nutrition, as well as environmental and social factors, among others, influencing them.
** The Quebec Experience is defined as the set of policies, programs and interventions (private, public and community-based) that could impact obesity prevention in the province of Quebec.