Systematic Review on Efficacy of School-based Intervention Programs in Reducing Obesity among School Children

This systematic review aims to assess the effectiveness of school-based intervention programs in reducing obesity among school children. It will investigate existing school-based intervention programs, evaluate their efficacy, explore barriers and challenges in implementation, and suggest ways to improve effectiveness.

7707MED Public Health Practice  7417MED International Public Health Practice
Assessment item 1: Workplan template
WORKPLAN TEMPLATE
Section A: General Details
STUDENT’S NAME:
STUDENT ID:
EMAIL:
SUPERVISOR’S NAME,
ORGANISATIONAND EMAIL
(please list all of your supervisors)
PROJECT TITLE:
A systematic review on efficacy
intervention in reducing obesity
among school children
PROJECT TYPE:
(Clearly indicate the type of project you are
undertaking e.g. literature review, grant application,
analysis of an existing data set, systematic review,
primary researchor other.)
Systematic review
FINAL REPORT FORMAT:
(Clearly indicate the format of your final output –
Final report, e.g. manuscript for journal, evaluation
report or other.)
Report of MPH research
project
ETHICAL CLEARANCE:
(If your project involves primary data collection
and/or analysis, University’s ethical clearance may be
required. Guidelines are available from the office of
research.)
 Ethics application has been
submitted/approved
 Ethics application to be submitted
 Not applicable
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7707MED Public Health Practice  7417MED International Public Health Practice
Assessment item 1: Workplan template
Section B: Project Plan
Background information:
Schools provide an exclusive environment to support children and young people in
developing their mental health, supporting them for effective treatment of the existing issues
and preventing the problems with mental health. The schools-based intervention programs
help the children in managing different health concerns such as physical development and
reducing the obesity issues (Bleich et al., 2013). The children and young people spend their
most time at schools so school-based intervention programs play an essential role in health
development (Amini, Djazayery, Majdzadeh, Taghdisi, & Jazayeri, 2015). The time spent in
schools does not only impact to cognitive and academic progress but also impact on social
integration, physical development and knowledge about the health nutrients to reduce obesity
(Hung et al., 2015).
The efficacy of schools-based programs such as awareness building and behaviour
modification programs refers to outcome of preventing the depression in the adolescences
and health nutrition issues. In schools, the children remain in a unique environment, where
they can understand the symptom of depression and ways to overcome depression from their
life (Balle and Tortella, 2010). Depression is also considered as a major cause on obesity as
the individuals use simular to manage depression. In this concern, the efficacy of schools-
based programs can be determined as a way of preventing depression among the children and
youth.
The major barriers and challenges in school base intervention programs are time allotment,
lack of discipline practices and existing resources. These barriers are influencing the
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7707MED Public Health Practice  7417MED International Public Health Practice
Assessment item 1: Workplan template
effectiveness of school base intervention programs. It is analyzed that the time is allotted by
the management of school for each activity but appropriate time is not allotted for the
therapeutic groups, which is influencing the knowledge of the children about their health
concerns. In addition, there is lack of discipline in the learning practices regarding the obesity
and other healthcare issues, which is influencing the results of the school base intervention
programs (Sobol‐Goldberg, Rabinowitz, & Gross, 2013). It is also analyzed that the existing
resources are not enough in the schools in achieving the objectives of the school base
intervention programs. Due to lack of appropriate resources the schools are getting several
issues in improving the knowledge of the children in proper manner (Dobbins et al., 2013).
Obesity and overweight in children is a major health problem across the world. Obesity in
children is responsible for childhood mortality and morbidity. Obesity in childhood increases
the risk of cardiovascular diseases, osteoarthritis, different types of cancers and obesity in
adulthood. The studies indicated that 17% children aged between 2-19 years are facing the
issue of overweight and 10-35% occurrence of obesity and overweight is found among the
children of European nations (Verjans, van de Kolk, Van Kann, Kremers, & Gerards, 2018).
The issue of overweight and obesity has adverse health outcomes that are insulin resistance,
early progression of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases that can lead to premature
death (Guerra et al., 2013). Thus, preventing childhood from obesity and overweight has been
believed to be an effective way of reducing premature deaths.
From 1980s, the prevalence of obesity in children is increasingly rapidly (Verjans, van de
Kolk, Van Kann, Kremers, & Gerards, 2018). Different national and international efforts
have made to reduce this health concern among the children and adults. There were 23.8%
boys and 22.6% girls with occurrence of obesity or overweight in the developed countries
(Amold et al., 2016). The major causes of obesity in children are low level of physical
activities, unhealthy eating behaviour and sedentary lifestyle (Verjans, van de Kolk, Van
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7707MED Public Health Practice  7417MED International Public Health Practice
Assessment item 1: Workplan template
Kann, Kremers, & Gerards, 2018). This health concern can be reduced by involvement of the
parents in school-based interventions. The parental involvement in the school-based
intervention programs will be helpful in understanding the nutritional behaviour, sedentary
behaviour, physical activity behaviour, health risk factors and weight status of the children.
The schools are implementing an avenue for effective intervention directing childhood
obesity. Some of the countries such as UK and USA have been approved legislation and
guidelines to implement the school-based intervention for better development of the children
both in mental and physical perspectives (Mahmood, Perveen, Dino, Ibrahim & Mehraj,
2014).
Gaps and limitations of previous research studies
The previous research studies are not discussion about the major barriers and challenges in
implementation of school-based programs. As well as, the previous research studies are not
providing information properly about the strategies to manage these barriers and challenges
in proper manner.
The objective of this research study is to assess the effectiveness of school-based intervention
programs in reducing occurrence of obesity among the children.
From 1980s, the prevalence of obesity in children is increasingly rapidly. Different national
and international efforts have need made to reduce this health concern among the children
and adults. There were 23.8% boys and 22.6% girls with occurrence of obesity or overweight
in the developed countries. The major causes of obesity in children are low level of physical
activities, unhealthy eating behaviour and sedentary lifestyle (Verjans, van de Kolk, Van
Kann, Kremers, & Gerards, 2018). Due to these causes the issue of obesity is increasing
rapidly among the children. This health concern can be reduced by involvement of the
parents in school-based interventions. The parental involvement in the school-based
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7707MED Public Health Practice  7417MED International Public Health Practice
Assessment item 1: Workplan template
intervention programs will be helpful in understanding the nutritional behaviour, sedentary
behaviour, physical activity behaviour, health risk factors and weight status of the children.
Rationale:
The major rationales of conducting this systematic review are inconsistent and varied
effectiveness of school-based intervention programs in schools. The inconsistent and varied
settings of school-based intervention are making barriers in physical and mental development
of the children. In addition, the lack of studies about the barriers and challenges in
implementing the school-based programs is also a big rational of this systematic review. In
this systematic review, the inclusion criteria, exclusion criteria data extraction will be used to
analyse the challenges and barriers in implementation of school-based programs and achieve
solution for the same. In addition, the research study will also have significance for the
schools to understand the importance of involvement of the parents in the school-based
intervention programs to reduce the issue of obesity among the children (Sobol‐Goldberg,
Rabinowitz, & Gross, 2013).
Aim and research objectives:
The aim of this research project is to examine the effectiveness of school-based intervention
programs in reducing obesity among school based children. The aim will be attained by
addressing the specific objectives as below: To investigate what are the existing school-based intervention programs and their
roles in physical development to reduce obesity in children. To evaluate the efficacy of school-based intervention programs in reducing the
obesity among children To explore the barriers and challenges in implementing school-based intervention
programs.
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7707MED Public Health Practice  7417MED International Public Health Practice
Assessment item 1: Workplan template To suggest the ways to improve effectiveness of the school-based intervention
programs in reducing obesity among children.
Research questions:
Below research questions will be identified during the research project to attain the research
objectives in most reliable manner: What are existing school-based interventions? What are the roles of school-based intervention is helpful physical and mental
development of children, focusing on obesity reduction? How do parents involve in school-based intervention programs ? What is the efficacy of school-based intervention programs in reducing obesity among
children? What are the possible barriers and challenges in establishing and conducting school-
based intervention programs? What are strategies to improve the effectiveness of school-based intervention
programs in reducing obesity occurrence in children?
Methods or implementation strategies:
Literature research: Literature search plays an essential role in attaining appropriate data from
different secondary sources like books, journals, articles and web links. In order to conduct
the systematic review of research project, literature research method will be used effectively
(Hart, 2018).
Study selection: The relevant published studies from 2011 to 2019 will be used to collect data
regarding the school-based intervention programs in reducing obesity among the children.
Eligible criteria:
In this research project, all English, meta-analysis, policy briefs, reports related to children
and adolescents that are published between 2011 and 2019 will be reviewed in systematic
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7707MED Public Health Practice  7417MED International Public Health Practice
Assessment item 1: Workplan template
manner to conclude a valid result. The interventional studies related to treatment or
prevention of obesity will be included in this research project. In order to make the research
outcomes more reliable, applicable and comparable both inclusion criteria and exclusion
criteria will be added in the research study. These inclusion and exclusion criteria are
described as below:
Inclusion criteria: The studies of inclusion criteria will investigate effectiveness of school-
based intervention programs targeting sedentary behaviour, physical activity behaviour and
nutrition behaviour. In addition, the age of targeted children will be 4 to 12 years who are
attending primary school. Under the inclusion criteria, the parents will be involved directly in
the school-based intervention programs to promote the physical activities and reduce the
sedentary behaviour of their children. The way of communication will be English language.
Exclusion criteria: The study will be excluded if the intervention id conducted directly with
parents through inviting the parents to attend health related information, sending news settlers
to parents and giving specific homework that should be completed with help of parents. The
intervention will not target the environment of the school and the intervention will
exclusively aim a specific subpopulation such as overweight children of primary school.
Searching strategy: The data will be collected from different authorized web links concerning
to school-based programs in development of children.
Screening papers: The abstract and conclusion part will be analysed in proper manner to
attain the objectives of this research study in quick and reliable manner.
Data extraction: The evaluated validity of 70 selected and reviewed journals and article will
be analysed through Critical Appraisal Skill Programs with proper focus on the research
methodology. The disagreements will be resolved through proper discussion until reaching
final consensus.
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7707MED Public Health Practice  7417MED International Public Health Practice
Assessment item 1: Workplan template
Data analysis: The research study is based on qualitative data so that the collected data will
be analysed in qualitative manner through supporting the data with existing literature review.
Resources required:
In order to accomplish the research project in successful manner, there will be requirement of
access to GU library databases, Health and School resources and information from the social
organizations.
Activities timeline:
Activity timeline is a process of describing a timeframe for each of the activity of research
project in which the project activities will be accomplished in proper manner. Activity
timeline will be helpful in accomplishing each of the project activity timely. The weekly
activity timeline for this research project is as below:
Activity Name Total Weeks
1 2 3
Selection of the topic
Prepare research background
Make research aims, objectives and questions
Conduct literature review
Research methods
Arrange the data in systematic manner
Analysis of research findings
Formulate the research report
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7707MED Public Health Practice  7417MED International Public Health Practice
Assessment item 1: Workplan template
References:
Amini, M., Djazayery, A., Majdzadeh, R., Taghdisi, M. H., & Jazayeri, S. (2015). Effect of
school-based interventions to control childhood obesity: a review of reviews. International
journal of preventive medicine, 6.
Arnold, M., Leitzmann, M., Freisling, H., Bray, F., Romieu, I., Renehan, A., &
Soerjomataram, I. (2016). Obesity and cancer: an update of the global impact. Cancer
epidemiology, 41, 8-15.
Balle, M., & Tortella, M. (2010). Efficacy of a brief school-based program for selective
prevention of childhood anxiety. Anxiety, Stress & Coping, 23(1), 71-85.
Bleich, S. N., Segal, J., Wu, Y., Wilson, R., & Wang, Y. (2013). Systematic review of
community-based childhood obesity prevention studies. Pediatrics, 132(1), e201-e210.
Dobbins, M., Husson, H., DeCorby, K., & LaRocca, R. L. (2013). School‐based physical
activity programs for promoting physical activity and fitness in children and adolescents aged
6 to 18. Cochrane database of systematic reviews, (2).
Hart, C. (2018). Doing a literature review: Releasing the research imagination. USA: Sage.
Hung, L. S., Tidwell, D. K., Hall, M. E., Lee, M. L., Briley, C. A., & Hunt, B. P. (2015). A
meta-analysis of school-based obesity prevention programs demonstrates limited efficacy of
decreasing childhood obesity. Nutrition Research, 35(3), 229-240.
Mahmood, S., Perveen, T., Dino, A., Ibrahim, F., & Mehraj, J. (2014). Effectiveness of
school-based intervention programs in reducing prevalence of overweight. Indian journal of
community medicine: official publication of Indian Association of Preventive & Social
Medicine, 39(2), 87-91.
Sobol‐Goldberg, S., Rabinowitz, J., & Gross, R. (2013). School‐based obesity prevention
programs: A meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials. Obesity, 21(12), 2422-2428.
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7707MED Public Health Practice  7417MED International Public Health Practice
Assessment item 1: Workplan template
Verjans, S. R., van de Kolk, I., Van Kann, D. H., Kremers, S. P., & Gerards, S. M. (2018).
Effectiveness of school-based physical activity and nutrition interventions with direct
parental involvement on children’s BMI and energy balance-related behaviors–A systematic
review. PloS one, 13(9).
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7707MED Public Health Practice  7417MED International Public Health Practice
Assessment item 1: Workplan template
Section C: Contract
SUPERVISOR’S AGREEMENT:
Name of principal supervisor:
Organisation:
I have read this workplan and Iagree to supervise this 20 CP Public Health Practice project. I will be
available throughout the trimester to provide guidance to the student. I have received the marking
criteria and description of assessment items and I am familiar with the requirements.
Signature: ______________________ Date: ______________
CO-SUPERVISOR’SAGREEMENT (if applicable)
Name of co-supervisor:
Organisation:
I have read this workplan and Iagree to supervise this 20 CP Public Health Practice project. I will be
available throughout the trimester to provide guidance to the student. I have received the marking
criteria and description of assessment items and I am familiar with the requirements.
Signature: ______________________ Date: ______________
STUDENT’S DECLARATION:
By signing below I confirm that:
• I understand the requirements of the work to be undertaken for this course;
• I agree with the supervision arrangements;
• It is my responsibility to keep the course convenor up-to-date regarding my progress and
inform about any issues should they arise;
• I am aware that the report produced in this course must be my own original work.
Signature: ______________________ Date: ______________
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