Effects of intervention programs focused on the treatment of overweight/obese children and adolescents

Abstract

 

The aim of this study was to realize one systemic review the effectiveness of intervention programs which were based on physical activity (PA) and dietary control of overweight and/or obese children and adolescents. The literature search was conducted in electronic databases covering the time period between July 1th, 2006 to April 30th, 2012. From 1,696 studies initially reviewed, 28 articles describing 23 programs were included. We have included studies with exercise programs and nutritional counseling for overweight and/or obese children and adolescents. Interventions which were excluded were those which involved the use of drugs, studies conducted in adolescents with hormonal disorders and eating disorders, book chapters, conference proceedings and dissertations. Seventeen programs were targeted towards children and adolescents and six were designed specifically for adolescents. In ten studies, the physical fitness (PF) was further assessed. Due the methodological heterogeneity found, these results are insufficient to determine the effectiveness of intervention programs regarding PA and diet. The results seem to indicate that AF associated with nutrition counseling has positive effects on reducing weight and body mass index (BMI). We emphasize the need to design specific programs for adolescents, as well as the as well assess the effectiveness of long term programs in populations of children and adolescents with overweight and obesity.