One of the dominant themes in health policy and planning today is the need for interventions to be based on sound evidence of effectiveness. Responsibility for ensuring that programs are consistent with the best available evidence must be shared between providers, policy makers and purchasers of services. Health promotion programs present particular challenges due to the complexity of factors that contribute to outcomes and the difficulties involved in evaluation.

This report is a result of work commissioned by the Public Health Branch of the Department of Human Services and undertaken by Health Strategies Deakin and the Centre for Development and Innovation in Health. It is an initial effort to support enhanced program planning and purchasing for health promotion in the community health field in Victoria. The areas selected for focus-nutrition, physical activity and healthy weight-are key risk factors of direct relevance to National Health Priority Areas. This report may be useful when planning, designing and reviewing health promotion program activities.

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