School‐based obesity prevention programs: A meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials

Abstract

Objective: Attempts have been made to reduce childhood obesity through school-based programs. Systematic reviews of studies until 2006 reported a lack of consistency about effectiveness of such programs. Presented is an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Design and Methods: Replication of methodology used in previous comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of school-based obesity prevention programs covering studies until 2006 to review studies thru January 2012. Results: Based on 32 studies (n 5 52,109), programs were mildly effective in reducing BMI relative to controls not receiving intervention. Studies of children had significant intervention effects, those of teenagers did not, though the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant. Metaregression showed a significant linear hierarchy of studies with the largest effects for comprehensive programs more than 1 year long that aimed to provide information on nutrition and physical activity, change attitudes, monitor behavior, modify environment, involve parents, increase physical activity and improve diet, particularly among children. Conclusions: Unlike earlier studies, more recent studies showed convincing evidence that school-based prevention interventions are at least mildly effective in reducing BMI in children, possibly because these newer studies tended to be longer, more comprehensive and included parental support.

Two-Year BMI Outcomes From a School-Based Intervention for Nutrition and Exercise: A Randomized Trial

“…Interventions such as SNaX, which combine strategies to increase healthy nutritional intake and physical activity, have been more successful than those interventions that target only nutritional intake or physical activity. [7][8][9] In school-based interventions, effects for BMI and other obesity-related outcomes have generally been small and short-lived. 4,7,10 Although some school-based RCTs have reported effects on BMI among adolescents, 11 most empirical support comes from quasi-experimental designs.…”

“…[7][8][9] In school-based interventions, effects for BMI and other obesity-related outcomes have generally been small and short-lived. 4,7,10 Although some school-based RCTs have reported effects on BMI among adolescents, 11 most empirical support comes from quasi-experimental designs. 12 Few RCTs of combined physical activity and nutrition-focused, school-based obesity prevention interventions have shown effects on BMI across the school population.…”

Childhood Obesity Prevention: Does Policy Meet Research? Evidence-Based Reflections upon the Spanish Case

“…However, more research is needed to confirm this hypothesis. [35][36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43] In addition, particularly at young ages, habit changes do not directly depend on children but rather on the adults in their environment, principally parents, but also other relatives, neighbors, teachers, and canteen educators. As expected, family involvement emerges as a crucial aspect [36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48] although a remaining major question concerns how they should be involved.…”

The evaluation of short-term nutrition education on the nutrition habits of university students

“…Obesity is known to be influenced by excessive nutrient intake, inadequate physical activity, genetic, environmental and psychological factors (Willer et al, 2009). Silveira et al (2011) stated that excess weight may be reduced by schoolbased nutrition education and in some studies; education was seemed less effective on weight (Sobol-Goldberg et al, 2013).…”