Interventions to Prevent Obesity in Mexican Children and Adolescents: Systematic Review

Abstract

The prevalence of overweight and obesity has been rising among Mexican children and adolescents in the last decades. To systematically review obesity prevention interventions delivered to Mexican children and adolescents. Thirteen databases and one search engine were searched for evidence from 1995 to 2021. Searches were done in English and Spanish to capture relevant information. Studies with experimental designs, delivered in any setting (e.g., schools or clinics) or digital domains (e.g., social media campaigns) targeting Mexican children or adolescents (≤ 18 years) and reporting weight outcomes, were included in this review. In addition, the risk of bias was appraised with the Effective Public Health Practice Project Quality Assessment Tool. Twenty-nine studies with 19,136 participants (3–17 years old) were included. The prevalence of overweight and obesity at baseline ranged from 21 to 69%. Most of the studies (89.6%) were delivered in school settings. The duration ranged from 2 days to 3 school years, and the number of sessions also varied from 2 to 200 sessions at different intensities. Overall, anthropometric changes varied across studies. Thus, the efficacy of the included studies is heterogeneous and inconclusive among studies. Current evidence is heterogeneous and inconclusive about the efficacy of interventions to prevent obesity in Mexican children and adolescents. Interventions should not be limited to educational activities and should include different components, such as multi-settings delivery, family inclusion, and longer-term implementations. Mixed-method evaluations (including robust quantitative and qualitative approaches) could provide a deeper understanding of the effectiveness and best practices.

Obesity and oral health in Mexican children and adolescents: systematic review and meta-analysis

“…60 , 61 Although whether an association exists between BMI and oral health among Mexican children and adolescents remains inconclusive, health professionals involved in young people’s care should consider individual, family, and environmental factors that might affect dental health and unfavorable BMI, because these are likely to have shared trails, such as diets with a high sugar content. More evidence is available on interventions to prevent 62 or treat 63 obesity among Mexican children and adolescents. However, understanding how development, dental caries, and nutritional status are linked could inform broader risk factor–based preventive strategies.…”

Cultural factors related to childhood and adolescent obesity in Mexico: A systematic review of qualitative studies

“…2,7,12,19,22 Children perceive that those peers with obesity might experience some difficulties when exercising because of the excess weight. 7,19,22 Parents also consider physical activity a weight management strategy, 10,13,15,24 and some mentioned challenges while trying to perform physical activities with their children (e.g., children's dislike, costs, safety, or lack of time). 10,11,13,15,17,24 Teachers and health professionals at schools acknowledge the importance of physical activity in obesity prevention.…”

“…7,19,22 Parents also consider physical activity a weight management strategy, 10,13,15,24 and some mentioned challenges while trying to perform physical activities with their children (e.g., children's dislike, costs, safety, or lack of time). 10,11,13,15,17,24 Teachers and health professionals at schools acknowledge the importance of physical activity in obesity prevention. 11,12,18 Nevertheless, most report not having a structured physical education class or lacking knowledge on motivating children to engage effectively in physical activities.…”

“…Insecurity in the streets and recreation areas, unsafe parks without lighting, lack of indoor spaces, poor infrastructure of public spaces, or lack of hygiene in public spaces were constantly stated by parents as a barrier for children using outdoor public facilities. 4,[11][12][13]15,17 School teachers and staff also acknowledge the lack of suitable spaces or materials for performing physical or recreational activities outside and in school settings. 11,12,18 In addition, the lack of safe water was highlighted by one study as a primary barrier to consuming plain water at schools.…”

“…Children constantly mentioned that working mothers struggle to prepare homemade food, eat at home, or do physical activity. 1,2,8,9,16,17 Similarly, working duties were highlighted by parents as the crucial factor for not cooking 4,12,13,15,21 or performing physical activities with their children. 12,17 Teachers also declare that the lack of time for working parents is a critical factor for feeding children adequately or engaging in physical activity.…”