Managing Overweight and Obesity in Children and Adolescents: Effective Interventions

Abstract

Introduction:

The escalating prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents worldwide presents a significant public health challenge, with recent estimates suggesting that 18% of this population is affected. The enduring health implications extend to increased risks of chronic diseases in adulthood. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of various interventions for managing overweight and obesity in children and adolescents, distilling evidence-based practices to inform future obesity management programs.

Methods:

A comprehensive search was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus, focusing on interventional studies and clinical trials published in the last five years up to 2022. The review was limited to randomized controlled trials in English, with a minimum follow-up of six months. Studies were selected based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, emphasizing interventions that did not involve pharmacological or surgical approaches.

Results:

Ten studies met the inclusion criteria, with sample sizes ranging from 30 to 600 participants. Interventions varied from dietary changes and physical activity enhancements to behavioral therapies and multicomponent approaches. Multicomponent interventions were most effective, leading to an average BMI reduction of 2.5 kg/m^2 (95% CI 2.1 to 2.9). Hybrid delivery models, combining in-person and online methods, demonstrated high effectiveness and engagement, with one study reporting a 3 kg/m^2 reduction in BMI. The risk ratio for obesity reduction in multicomponent, hybrid interventions was 1.5 (95% CI 1.3 to 1.7).

Conclusions:

This review underscores the efficacy of multicomponent and hybrid interventions in managing pediatric obesity, highlighting the importance of integrated strategies that combine dietary, physical activity, and behavioral elements. The findings advocate for leveraging technology to enhance intervention delivery and engagement, suggesting that such approaches may offer a scalable and effective means to address the growing obesity epidemic among children and adolescents.