School-based Interventions to Reduce Childhood Obesity: An Integrative Review
Open Access
- Author:
- Sheridan, Brittany Alexandra
- Area of Honors:
- Nursing
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Harleah Graham Buck, Thesis Honors Advisor
Dr. Kesha Avalon Baptiste Roberts, Thesis Supervisor - Keywords:
- School-Based
Obesity Prevention
Children - Abstract:
- Effective school-based obesity prevention and intervention programs are vital to the management of childhood obesity in the United States. This is because one third of American children exceed the National Institutes of Health (NIH) healthy Body Mass Index (BMI) guidelines for children. PURPOSE: To examine recent literature on school-based obesity prevention and intervention programs and determine the effectiveness of these programs in reducing BMI, increasing physical activity and improving nutritional choices while identifying common features of the most effective programs. METHODS: Using the PubMed and CINAHL databases, an integrated review of the literature was conducted using the search terms obesity prevention, elementary school and school-based. Only articles published between 2001 and 2012 were selected for this review. SUBJECTS: Children in elementary schools between the ages of five and twelve were included in this review per their participation in the ten studies selected. RESULTS: Three studies used solely nutrition education and two used only a physical activity component while five of the ten studies used a combined approach of both physical activity and nutrition education. The studies included in this review were either randomized control trails or quasi-experimental studies. Studies varied in their duration and their intervention approach, with some having an after school component, parent involvement and community involvement. Additionally, studies differed with regard to the assessment of obesity prevention behaviors, weight status and obesity measures. The most effective programs included physical activity, nutritional education, behavioral modification, and parental involvement. DISCUSSION: There were several studies that showed significant reduction in BMI and from them emerged components that are most effective in reducing BMI. Future studies need to be longitudinal in nature to determine the effectiveness of programs over time.