Evaluation of Physical Activity and Lifestyle Interventions Focused on School Children with Obesity Using Accelerometry: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Jose Manuel Jurado-Castro,Francisco Jesus Llorente-Cantarero,Mercedes Gil-Campos,Hugo Gonzalez-Gonzalez

doi:10.3390/ijerph17176031

Abstract

Despite the existence of global recommendations for physical activity and lifestyle to avoid childhood obesity, there are no specific recommendations for school-age children. The aim of this meta-analysis was to measure the effects of current interventions with a physical activity component on body mass index (BMI) Z-score and on the moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA) time, measured by accelerometry, and focused on children with obesity. Randomized controlled trial studies (RCTs) based on physical activity interventions focused on children with obesity (6 to 12 years old) from January 1991 to August 2018 were included. The post-intervention mean and standard deviation of the BMI Z-score and MVPA engaged time were extracted to calculate the results using random effects models. Of a total of 229 studies considered potentially eligible, only 10 RCTs met the inclusion criteria. There were improvements in the BMI Z-score for physical activity intervention groups, compared with non-intervention children in addition to a significant increase in time engaged in MVPA. In conclusion, interventions with a physical activity component in school-children with obesity seem to be effective at reducing BMI and producing an increase in time spent engaged in physical activity. Therefore, interventions based on physical activity should be considered one of the main strategies in treating childhood obesity.

Highlights

Epidemiological studies continue to show an alarmingly increasing prevalence of childhood obesity in developed countries, despite the different strategies being carried out by governments [1].It is well known that obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and it is associated with physical and mental health problems in both children and adults [2]
The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of current interventions with a physical activity (PA) component on body mass index (BMI) and time spent engaged in moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA) via accelerometry measurement, among school-age children with obesity to establish better practices that promote adherence to a more active lifestyle
A total of 1320 articles were deleted as duplicates, leaving a potential of 3336 papers to be selected for inclusion

Summary

Introduction

It is well known that obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and it is associated with physical and mental health problems in both children and adults [2]. In this regard, traditional obesity treatment in children tries to promote a healthier lifestyle and good nutritional habits by increasing physical activity (PA) and modifying behavior, such as walking to school. There is no specific information about the effects these interventions have on children with obesity [3,4,5], for example, the. Public Health 2020, 17, 6031; doi:10.3390/ijerph17176031 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion