Lifestyle interventions for youth who are overweight: a meta-analytic review

Clear evidence suggests that lifestyle interventions can be helpful in the treatment of youth who are overweight, but translational research is needed to address the gap between treatment research and clinical care.

This meta-analysis integrated the results of 66 treatment-control comparisons and 59 alternate treatment comparisons evaluating lifestyle interventions for children and adolescents who were overweight.

Between-groups differences in weight-related outcomes and other health-related behaviors at the end of treatment.

Lifestyle interventions were effective in a range of settings and with a range of participants. Even relatively brief programs had benefits apparent months after the end of treatment. A key component appeared to be the expectation that parents would be actively involved in treatment. Program benefits included not only better weight management but also better eating habits.

The results suggest that lifestyle interventions can be effective under a wide range of conditions not limited to the highly controlled conditions of efficacy studies. Parent involvement is associated with significantly better results.