Effectiveness of pre‐school‐ and school‐based interventions to impact weight‐related behaviours in A frican A merican children and youth: a literature review

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.