A Program of the Pan American Health Organization, International Life Sciences Institute, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Healthy Lifestyles, Healthy People (HLHP) project is an initiative of the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI), the Pan American Health Organization, Regional Office of the World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The overall goal of the project is to contribute to the development of sound obesity prevention approaches through diet and physical activity interventions in Latin America by 2007, by improving the quality of program evaluation and enhancing dissemination and replication of well-evaluated, effective health promotion programs.
The HLHP initiative shares similar goals with the WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health and therefore constitutes an important Regional effort to implement the strategy by providing scientific programmatic evidence, guidelines for policy development, and stakeholder involvement. Oversight for HLHP is provided by an Executive Committee and a Project Coordination Committee integrated by PAHO, ILSI, and CDC representatives. In addition, a Scientific Advisory Committee, with five highly qualified professionals, will review proposals, select the best ones for funding, and assess projects results.
The HLHP initiative will concentrate its efforts in Brazil, Chile, and Mexico with 18 investigators (six per country) invited to submit proposals. In order to capitalize on the knowledge, strengths, resources, and commitment of the multiple sectors within each target country, ILSI and PAHO promote the organization of Local Consortia in each country, integrated by representatives from the public and private sectors. In each country, the up to three proposals will be awarded a grant of up to USD $100,000 each. Local research groups in each country will be invited to develop proposals considering the following criteria:
The specific objectives of the Project include:
- Evaluate promising community-based interventions aimed at preventing obesity through diet and physical activity modifications in Brazil, Chile, and Mexico that build on existing evidence and are administered under real-world conditions;
- Develop local private-public partnerships in Brazil, Chile, and Mexico committed to promoting healthier lifestyles, tackling the epidemic of obesity, and increasing public awareness about obesity prevention;
- Disseminate results and lessons learned, and facilitate replication of effective intervention/programs, throughout Latin America utilizing both existing networks such as CARMEN and RAFA (Red Actividad Física de las Americas) and new approaches.
The deadline for final HLHP proposal submission is Thursday, June 30, 2005. The announcement of awarded project proposals is expected on Friday, July 29, 2005.