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Effectiveness of pre‐school‐ and school‐based interventions to impact weight‐related behaviours in A frican A merican children and youth: a literature review
Author(s) -
Robinson L. E.,
Webster E. K.,
WhittGlover M. C.,
Ceaser T. G.,
Alhassan S.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
obesity reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.845
H-Index - 162
eISSN - 1467-789X
pISSN - 1467-7881
DOI - 10.1111/obr.12208
Subject(s) - psychological intervention , ethnic group , medicine , childhood obesity , obesity , inclusion (mineral) , physical activity , african american , adolescent obesity , head start , gerontology , overweight , psychology , physical therapy , developmental psychology , psychiatry , social psychology , ethnology , sociology , anthropology , history
Summary This review assessed the effectiveness of pre‐school‐ and school‐based obesity prevention and/or treatment interventions targeting healthy eating, physical activity or obesity in A frican A merican children and adolescents. Systematic searches were conducted for E nglish‐printed research articles published between J anuary 1980 and M arch 2013. Retained articles included experimental studies conducted in the U nited S tates that targeted ≥80% A frican A merican/black children and adolescents and/or studies whose results were stratified by race/ethnicity, and that were conducted in pre‐schools/head start or schools (excluding after‐school programmes). Of the 12,270 articles identified, 17 met the inclusion criteria (pre‐school, n = 2; elementary school, n = 7; middle and secondary schools, n = 8). Thirteen studies found significant improvements in nutrition (pre‐school, n = 1; elementary, n = 7; secondary, n = 5) and three found significant improvements in physical activity (pre‐school, n = 1; elementary, n = 2) variables of interest. Two studies (pre‐school, n = 1; secondary, n = 1) reported significant reductions in obesity in A frican A merican children. The evidence available suggests school‐based interventions are effective in promoting healthy nutrition behaviours in A frican A merican children. Conclusions overall and, particularly, about effects on physical activity and obesity are limited due to the small number of studies, differences in assessment approaches and a lack of follow‐up assessments.