Evaluating the Design Quality of Provincial “Weight Management Year” Implementation Plans in China: A PMC-Index Analysis
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Abstract: Background Obesity is a significant public health problem globally. China has launched the “Weight Management Year” activity in 2024 to address the growing issues of overweight and obesity. Since the national implementation plan was released, provincial implementation plans were created to translate the national objectives into localised actions. However, the structural characteristics and design quality of these provincial policy documents have not been systematically evaluated. Methods This study used the Policy Modeling Consistency Index (PMC-Index) model to evaluate the 17 provincial-level implementation plans of the “Weight Management Year” activity. A preliminary textual analysis, international obesity prevention frameworks, national policy priorities, and previous policy evaluation research were used to develop the PMC-Index evaluation framework. All policy documents were coded independently by two researchers and through Cohen’s kappa and Gwet’s AC1, inter-rater reliability was determined. A third researcher adjudicated any differences by discussion. Results The PMC-Index scores for the 17 provincial implementation plans varied from 6.60 to 8.83 with a mean score of 7.92, which is overall good policy design quality. The assessed plans performed well in the areas of policy function, policy domains, and policy support and included wide-ranging multisectoral governance of weight management. However, gaps were found in objective measurable setting, evaluation mechanisms, planning based on evidence and the explicit consideration of vulnerable populations. Conclusions Provincial-level implementation plans for China’s “Weight Management Year” activity have high levels of multisectoral obesity prevention governance in place and a high degree of alignment with national policy goals. However, there are still opportunities for enhancements to bolster operational goals, monitoring systems, and equity-based initiatives. These findings can offer evidence for refining public health policies and improving future policy design for obesity prevention.
Source: Research Square
Authors: Hailing Li, Hai Li, Mi Ma, Yi Peng
Institutions: Neijiang Normal University, Putian University
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: Putian University
OpenAlex ID: W7212318052