Overweight and obesity in children is a growing public health concern, with an estimated 41 million children worldwide affected. To address this issue, peer-led programs have been developed to help children make healthier lifestyle choices. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis of peer-led programs for overweight and obesity in children has found that these programs can be effective in reducing body mass index (BMI) and improving dietary and physical activity behaviors.
The systematic review and meta-analysis, published in the journal Obesity Reviews, included 16 studies that evaluated the effectiveness of peer-led programs for overweight and obesity in children. The studies included a total of 1,845 participants aged 6-18 years. The programs included a variety of approaches, such as peer-led education, peer-led physical activity, and peer-led nutrition education.
The results of the meta-analysis showed that peer-led programs were effective in reducing BMI and improving dietary and physical activity behaviors. Specifically, the programs were associated with a 0.25 kg/m2 reduction in BMI and a 0.25 increase in physical activity. In addition, the programs were associated with a 0.20 increase in fruit and vegetable consumption and a 0.17 decrease in sugar-sweetened beverage consumption.
The authors of the review concluded that peer-led programs can be effective in reducing BMI and improving dietary and physical activity behaviors in children. They noted that the programs may be particularly beneficial for children who are at risk of overweight and obesity, as well as those who are already overweight or obese.
The authors also noted that the programs may be more effective when combined with other interventions, such as parental involvement and school-based interventions. They suggested that future research should focus on the long-term effectiveness of peer-led programs and the potential for these programs to reduce the risk of chronic diseases in children.
Overall, the findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that peer-led programs can be effective in reducing BMI and improving dietary and physical activity behaviors in children. These programs may be particularly beneficial for children who are at risk of overweight and obesity, as well as those who are already overweight or obese. Future research should focus on the long-term effectiveness of peer-led programs and the potential for these programs to reduce the risk of chronic diseases in children.
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