Weight-loss interventions for adolescents with Down syndrome: a systematic review

Youth with Down syndrome (DS) experience high rates of overweight and obesity; therefore, weight-loss interventions are warranted. We aimed to systematically review weight-loss interventions for adolescents with DS to better understand the most effective strategies and identify the current gaps in the literature.

This systematic review followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews [PROSPERO] #CRD42022303781). Databases were searched through July 28, 2023, and screening, evaluation, and data extraction were performed by two independent reviewers. Change scores for weight or BMI were presented by study design and intervention components.

The 26 included papers describing 24 unique studies included a total of n = 1171 participants, of whom n = 393 were participants with DS. Eleven studies focused on physical activity, one on diet, and two on physical activity and diet; seven studies used multicomponent interventions; and three studies investigated laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. Thirteen studies using either a multicomponent intervention, a physical activity intervention, or surgery resulted in weight loss or a decrease in BMI in adolescents with DS.

Weight-loss interventions can be effective for adolescents with DS and could benefit from increasing duration/intensity to meet the existing weight-loss intervention recommendations. More research on surgery and weight-loss medications is needed.