This information was presented in the stakeholder FG sessions to facilitate discussion on the most effective and feasible types of intervention for their local communities. We recruited adult stakeholders from eight school communities in Birmingham,

UK to participate in FGs. A detailed description of recruitment and FG procedures is described elsewhere (Pallan et al., 2012). Stakeholders included parents, teachers, school catering staff, other school support staff, school governors, healthcare professionals, local authority representatives, Selleck VX-770 religious leaders, leisure centre staff, and retail representatives. Nine FGs were convened comprising 68 participants (88% female; 55% South Asian). Each group met for two sessions (70% attended both sessions). The aim of the FGs was to reach consensus on up to eight intervention components that participants believed would warrant inclusion in an intervention

programme for their local communities, given the perceived importance and feasibility of implementation. FGs were audio-recorded and check details transcribed. Analysis was two-staged. First an inductive thematic analysis was undertaken to identify themes relating to conceptual influences on the development of childhood obesity (findings described elsewhere; Pallan et al., 2012). Second, data on ideas for childhood obesity prevention, barriers and facilitators to intervention, and the balance given to importance and feasibility of each component were extracted from the transcripts (data presented in this paper). To assist with this process a framework for data extraction was developed through prior to analysis. This second analysis was a more deductive process, recognising that this is an appropriate approach when undertaking applied qualitative research that has preset aims and objectives (Pope et al., 2000). A systematic approach to mapping local community assets was developed, which included discussion with school, health and local community representatives, internet searches and visits to the communities.

The purpose was to enable the intervention programme to build on existing resources, thus making it more relevant to local communities and more sustainable. A Professionals Group was established to advise on intervention development. The Group consisted of nutritional, physical activity and behavioural epidemiologists, health psychologists, a dietician, an obesity programme commissioner, a paediatrician, a qualitative researcher, an educationalist and experts in ethnic minorities research. The role of the Group was to consider the FG data and the existing literature, and to advise on components to be included in the final programme. Eight relevant systematic reviews were identified (Bautista-Castano et al., 2004, Doak et al., 2006, Flodmark et al., 2006, Hardeman et al., 2000, NHS Centre for Reviews, Dissemination, 2002, Sharma, 2006, Stice et al., 2006 and Summerbell et al., 2005), encompassing 70 studies.