Cited by 362Obesity, Physical Activity, DietSchool Health and Nursing EducationObesity and Health Practices

School-Based Interventions on Childhood Obesity

Gonzalez-Suarez, Consuelo, Worley, Anthea, Grimmer-Somers, Karen, Dones, Valentine·2009·American Journal of Preventive Medicine

Abstract

Background Over the past decade, childhood obesity has been recognized as an increasing health problem worldwide. It is a predictor of obesity during adulthood, which is strongly linked to chronic lifestyle diseases.Purpose This paper aims to evaluate the effectiveness of school-based programs in the prevention and management of childhood obesity.Methods A comprehensive literature search was undertaken for RCTs and clinical controlled trials on school-based interventions that addressed childhood obesity, published between 1995 and 2007. The papers included for the meta-analysis were those in which ORs or standardized mean differences and their 95% CIs were reported or could be calculated from available data.Results Meta-analysis showed that the odds of participants' being overweight and obese in the school-based intervention programs compared with the control arm were significantly protective in the short term (OR=0.74, 95% CI=0.60, 0.92). Interventions that were conducted for more than 1 year had a higher OR of decreasing the prevalence of obesity. However, intervention programs were not effective in decreasing BMI compared with control treatments, with a weighted mean difference of -0.62 (95% CI=-1.39, 0.14).Conclusions This meta-analysis showed that there was convincing evidence that school-based interventions are effective, at least short-term, in reducing the prevalence of childhood obesity. Longer-running programs were more effective than shorter programs.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.amepre.2009.07.012

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Authors
Gonzalez-Suarez, C., Worley, A., Grimmer-Somers, K., & Dones, V.
Affiliations
  • University of South Australia (AU)
  • University of Santo Tomas (PH)
Corresponding author
Gonzalez-Suarez, Consuelo
Venue
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2009-11
Volume
37
Issue
5
Pages
418-427
ISSN
0749-3797 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2098218859
Cited by
361
References
67
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 24 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 11 · 2018: 23 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 33 · 2015: 21 · 2014: 41 · 2013: 40 · 2012: 38
FWCI
3.60
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • American Journal of Preventive Medicine (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Speech and Hearing › School Health and Nursing Education
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Obesity and Health Practices
Keywords
childhood obesity, school-based intervention, obesity prevention, overweight, body mass index, intervention duration, obesity prevalence, lifestyle-related diseases
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Child, Child, Preschool, Female, Humans, Male, Obesity, School Health Services, Time Factors, Body Mass Index, Prevalence, Overweight

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