Effectiveness of Interventions in the Prevention of Childhood Obesity

Abstract

The prevalence of childhood obesity, as with that of adulthood, has increased considerably over the past few years and has become a serious public health problem. Once established, its treatment is very difficult and, hence, prevention of childhood obesity using different types of intervention appears promising. The objective of this present report is to review interventions that had been conducted over the past 11 years in the environment of the family, schools and community, and directed towards the prevention of childhood obesity. We reviewed the different strategies employed, the different criteria used in defining weight status, the evaluation and follow-up methods, and the degree of effectiveness. Benefits other than reduced weight gain were assessed, as well. In our review, we selected 14 intervention studies. The differences in design, duration and outcome assessments make direct comparison difficult. Nevertheless, it seems that nutritional education and promotion of physical activity together with behaviour modifications, decrease in sedentary activities and the collaboration of the family could be the determining factors in the prevention of childhood obesity. Other important benefits regarding healthy habits apart from the changes in weight status were pursued in the majority of the studies reviewed. The need for well-designed studies that examine a range of interventions remains a priority.

Psychosocial Perspectives and the Issue of Prevention in Childhood Obesity

“…Moreover, McGarvey et al (117) suggest that whereas the combination of psychoeducation with behaviorally targeted changes may affect the attitudes and behaviors of parents, the effect of these parental changes on the behavior of the overweight child is limited. By contrast, others (118) conclude that despite the great variability in the design, duration, and outcome assessments of primary prevention studies carried out in the 1990s, these programs may have the potential to reduce the rate of overweight in some populations.…”

Nutritional approaches for managing obesity-associated metabolic diseases

“…This intervention is especially beneficial for obese individuals (Baillot, et al 2015; Chin, et al 2016; Fock and Khoo 2013; Jakicic and Otto 2005), who commonly lead an overall sedentary lifestyle. In fact, physical activity is the most highly recommended intervention to prevent and slow weight gain, and lower BMI in obese children (Alkon, et al 2014; Bautista-Castaño, et al 2004; Lee, et al 2012). Furthermore, physical activity is not only beneficial for weight loss.…”

Recommendations for Prevention of Childhood Obesity

“…[165][166][167][168][169][170][171][172] Three other reviews of randomized trials have been published, including 9 studies not previously reviewed. 129,173,174 Most of those studies were published before 2000; 8 were conducted in schools and 1 exclusively in the community. All except 3 of the intervention programs combined nutrition and physical activity components [175][176][177][178][179][180] ; 2 trials focused exclusively on physical activity promotion 181,182 and 1 focused chiefly on reduction of sedentary activities.…”