Year-end Sale % OFF 
Abstract
Systematic reviews of nutritional interventions indicate limited efficacy in reducing childhood obesity, but their blanket conclusions could obscure promising components. This narrative review sought more detail on effective components within nutrition-related interventions involving children aged 2 to 11years. In May 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) searched the Cochrane Library and PubMed for relevant reviews. From 36 reviews, we screened 182 nutrition-related randomized trials for inclusion. We then reviewed those that reported at least 1 statistically significant (P<0.05) treatment benefit on body weight and/or composition outcomes at their longest follow-up assessment. Fourteen trials met inclusion criteria (median n=554; mean intervention duration=10.8mo; follow-up=4.4mo). "Effective" approaches included environmental changes such as school water fountain installations and cafeteria menu changes and possibly less sustainable strategies such as health education lessons. However, effect sizes even of these selected significant treatment benefits were modest-significant body mass index z-score effects range from -0.1 to -0.2. Each trial was associated with very small improvements in body composition. Because this is a "best-case" scenario (reflecting our design), trialists should rigorously test these strategies alone and possibly together; be open to novel strategies; and ensure that each strategy is culturally relevant and self-sustainable.
Highlights
Systematic reviews of nutritional interventions indicate limited efficacy in reducing childhood obesity, but their blanket conclusions could obscure promising components
We conducted a narrative review of randomised control trials (RCT) with a nutrition-related component identified within systematic reviews with the aim of preventing overweight/obesity among 2- to 11-year-old children
At the conclusion of the trial the incidence and prevalence of overweight decreased within intervention schools (prevalence odds ratio (OR) 0.7, 95% CI 0.5 to 0.8, incidence OR 0.7, CI 0.5 to 1.0), but the two groups remained similar on multiple measures of nutrition and body mass index (BMI)/z-score
Summary
Systematic reviews of nutritional interventions indicate limited efficacy in reducing childhood obesity, but their blanket conclusions could obscure promising components. This narrative review sought more detail on effective components within nutrition-related interventions involving children aged 2-11 years. Overconsumption is one of the main drivers of childhood obesity.[2] past reviews reveal that nutrition-related interventions lack long-term efficacy and are of mixed quality.[3,4,5] a 2017 Cochrane review estimated that multicomponent interventions incorporating diet, physical activity and lifestyle behaviour change strategies have on average reduced children’s body mass index (BMI) z-score by a trivial 0.06; most included trials were of low quality with insufficient follow-up periods.[6]. This reduction of detail does not benefit clinical knowledge translation or policy development,(5, 7) and provides little guidance to move this field forward[7] as it relates to testing new approaches and their combinations
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
