After-School Based Obesity Prevention Interventions: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature

Abstract

The purpose of this article was to review primary prevention interventions targeting childhood obesity implemented in the after school environment from 2006 and 2011. A total of 20 interventions were found from 25 studies. Children in the interventions ranged from kindergarten to middle schoolers, however a majority was in the 4th and 5th grades. Most of the interventions targeted both physical activity and dietary behaviors. Among those that focused on only one dimension, physical activity was targeted more than diet. The duration of the interventions greatly varied, but many were short-term or brief. Many interventions were also based on some behavioral theory, with social cognitive theory as the most widely used. Most of the interventions focused on short-term changes, and rarely did any perform a follow-up evaluation. A major limitation among after school interventions was an inadequate use of process evaluations. Overall, interventions resulted in modest changes in behaviors and behavioral antecedents, and results were mixed and generally unfavorable with regards to indicators of obesity. Recommendations for enhancing the effectiveness of after school based childhood obesity interventions are presented.

Influence of Behavioral Theory on Fruit and Vegetable Intervention Effectiveness Among Children: A Meta-Analysis

“…Search terms included combinations of the following: ''dietary change,'' ''obesity prevention,'' ''children,'' ''adolescents,'' and ''theory.'' The authors also searched published literature reviews and meta-analyses on FV interventions among children and adolescents, [36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49] and searched references of all studies for further relevant studies. To find articles without theory, searches occurred in the published literature reviews and meta-analyses.…”

Evidence of Interventions for Preventing Obesity of Children and Adolescents Using Existing Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses

“…Educational interventions were associated with a significant reduction in waist circumference, BMI and diastolic blood pressure in treatment studies. 21) Interventions resulted in modest changes in behaviors and behavioral antecedents, and results were mixed and generally unfavorable with regards to indicators of obesity.…”

Childhood Obesity: Need for Multipronged Approach

“…Branscum and Sharma 13 conducted a review of after-school based interventions and included 20 interventions published in 25 articles. The participants in these interventions were mostly from primary grades, with some kindergarten and middle school, but no high school participants.…”

“…13 The after school environment is growing, and has the potential to impact a large number of children. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), almost half (43%) of youth (K-8 th grade) now participate in some form of after school programming.…”