Abstract
Objective
Schools offer an ideal setting for childhood obesity interventions due to their access to children and adolescents. This review aimed to systematically review the impact of school-based intervention for the treatment of childhood obesity.
Design
Eight databases were searched from inception till May 30, 2020. A revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations criteria were used to evaluate the risk of bias and overall evidence. Meta-analysis and meta-regression were performed on Stata software using the random-effects model. Overall effect was evaluated using Hedges’ g, and heterogeneity was assessed using Cochran’s Q and I2.
Setting
Cluster randomised trials (cluster-RCTs) delivered in school.
Participants
Children and adolescents (6-18 years of age) with overweight and obesity.
Results
Twelve cluster-RCTs from seven countries with 1,755 participants were included in the meta-analysis. School-based interventions for the treatment of childhood obesity reduced body mass index (BMI) and BMI z-scores with a medium effect (g=0·52). Subgroup analyses showed the greater effectiveness of brief school-based interventions and the interventions conducted in lower-middle to upper-middle economies. Meta-regression assessed the heterogeneity and the final model, with covariates of the type of economies and trial duration, accounted for 41.2% of the variability. The overall quality of evidence was rated low because of the high risk of bias and inconsistency.
Conclusions
School-based interventions is a possible approach to provide universal healthcare for the treatment of childhood obesity, and further well-designed cluster-RCTs with longer follow-up are needed. This study is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020160735).
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials on the effectiveness of school-based dental screening versus no screening on improving oral health in children