Systematic Review: Impact of Physical Activity on Obesity in Children

This literature review examines the impact of physical activity on preventing obesity in children, particularly in the UK. It begins with an overview of the increasing rates of childhood obesity and its associated health risks, emphasizing the importance of addressing this issue. The review then delves into the current state of childhood obesity in the UK, highlighting statistics and factors contributing to the problem, such as sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy eating habits. It explores the role of physical activity as a key intervention strategy, discussing various ways to promote exercise and its benefits for weight management and overall well-being. The methodology section details the systematic review process, including the databases used, search terms, inclusion/exclusion criteria, and the PRISMA flow diagram for article selection. The review concludes with a discussion of the findings, limitations, and recommendations for future research and interventions, emphasizing the need for increased awareness and promotion of physical activity to combat childhood obesity. Desklib provides access to this and other solved assignments for students.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

ABSTRACT
Obesity among children has been found to be critically increasing within recent time,
where over weight has become increasingly one of the major health issue impacting overall well-
being. The recent analysis in research has shed light on in depth systematic review done, by
analyzing impact of obesity among children. Study further has evolved systematic analysis to be
evolving main aspects of the latest findings on impact of obesity and over weight issues among
children. The findings have also shed light on research findings, where they should be further
given proper nutritious diet which is calcium rich to be active in proper weight management.
Study has also further evolved rise, on extended parameters about recent findings in form of
secondary research findings.
There are various factors and specific working parameters, where they should be active in
physical activities and plays for proper weight management aspects for proper healthcare
management significantly. Literature in research has also shed light on new arenas of working
aspects, where increase in fast food practices among children are the main parameters leading to
increase in weight gain and obesity. The over weight issues among children, has to be monitored
and further evolved to be improvised on proper healthcare management. Furthermore, it has
been also identified that recent findings have also showcased essential need to be further evolved
on proper eating habits among children and further motivated to be active in games.

Table of Contents
TOPIC..............................................................................................................................................1
CHAPTER 1-INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................1
Topic Overview...........................................................................................................................1
Importance of topic......................................................................................................................2
Aim and objectives......................................................................................................................3
Research Question.......................................................................................................................3
CHAPTER 2- LITERATURE REVIEW.........................................................................................4
Brief background to topic question..............................................................................................4
Presence of obesity in children in UK.........................................................................................4
Impact of obesity in children.......................................................................................................6
Different ways in which obesity can be prevented or reduced in children..................................7
Importance of physical activity on children................................................................................8
Ways in which physical activity can help in preventing obesity in children...............................9
CHAPTER 3- METHODOLOGY.................................................................................................11
Systematic review and its purpose.............................................................................................11
Databases used...........................................................................................................................11
Key words or search terms........................................................................................................11
Detail PICO...............................................................................................................................12
Research type.............................................................................................................................12
Inclusion and Exclusion criteria................................................................................................12
Results included and ways in which filtration of those results were done using PRISM FLOW
DATA FORMAT.......................................................................................................................13
Articles filtered..........................................................................................................................14
Tool that will be used to critique each article............................................................................14
Result table for explanation of each article...............................................................................16
Critique and analysis of each article..........................................................................................18
Conclusion with synopsis of results..........................................................................................20
Discussion of original questions and literature review..............................................................20
DISCUSSION................................................................................................................................20

Summary....................................................................................................................................20
Connection between articles and literature review....................................................................21
Elements missing in literature that have been researched so far...............................................21
LIMITATIONS..............................................................................................................................21
Recommendations..........................................................................................................................22
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................24

TOPIC
Impact of physical activity in preventing obesity in children
CHAPTER 1-INTRODUCTION
Topic Overview
Obesity is one of the main issues in UK especially in Children (Poursafa and et. al., 2018).
This obesity directly affects growth pattern of children. It is one of the main issue among
children and is increasing drastically. In fact, it is said that one in three children comes under
category of overweight or obese children (Brown and et. al., 2019). As per recent statistics
percentage of overweight or obese children is increasing drastically. In last 5 years there was 5
percent increase in obesity in children. Due to this overall health and physical growth of children
is affected drastically. Not only this, it is also said that children living in most deprived areas
were more obese as compared to children living in least deprived areas. Due to this reason, it
becomes important for children as well as their parents to focus upon reducing excess weight in
order to come in category of healthy children.
Obesity in children is a serious problem because it can lead to serious health issues or
problems such as heart problems, diabetes, uneven growth and development of body etc. It is a
serious problem to be focused upon children in UK, this is because UK is one of those countries
in Europe that has highest rate of childhood obesity (Lee and Yoon, 2018). There are various
kinds of reasons because of which obesity in children is increased in UK. One of the main
reasons is more than 40 percent parents do not think that their children come in category of obese
children. Another reason is lifestyle of children, due to advancement in technology most of the
children are engaged in playing games on mobiles, laptops etc. as a result physical activity of
children has reduced drastically. Another reason that has been identified is that today food eating
habits. Today most of the children prefer having fast food or food items that are high in calories
and fats which makes them obese (Amin and et. al., 2018). Due to this year- by- year percentage
of obese children are increasing day by day.
Physical activity is one of the most important things which is required to be focused upon
by children in order to remain healthy and fit and for proper growth and development of children
both physically and mentally (Alman and et. al., 2021). But it is slowly reducing because of
increasing usage of advance technology that has reduced physical activity, availability of
vehicles that has reduced walking etc. of children. According to current statistics, more than 60
1

percent of children spend most of their time in front of laptops, computers, television, playing
video games etc. not only this, due to extremely busy lifestyle of parents as well they do not
focus upon increasing physical activity of children and use these technological items as a source
of keeping their children busy so that they can enjoy their own lifestyle as a result overall health
of children is degrading and obesity among children is increasing (Morrisseyand et. al., 2020).
Increasing physical activities for children and indulging them within these physical
activities can directly help in reducing obesity among children. It should be first and the foremost
responsibility of parents to ensure that their children are getting engaged in any kind of physical
activity at least for 60 minutes a day so that they can remain fit and healthy, obesity among them
can reduce and growth and development of children can be improved (Murugesan and et. al.,
2018). There are many different ways in which physical activity among children can be
increased and can further help in preventing obesity in children. According to recent studies
increasing physical activity can be sufficient for prevention of onset of obesity
Importance of topic
Prevention of obesity among children is an important topic to be focused upon this is
because in last 10 years obesity among children is increasing drastically. Due to this at early age
chances of suffering from serious health issues such as diabetes, heart diseases etc. are increasing
for children. Not only this overall physical and mental development of children is also getting
affected. Due to these problems, it has become extremely important to identify ways in which
obesity among children can be controlled (Byrne, LeMay-Russell and Tanofsky-Kraff, 2019).
Physical activity is one of the best ways with the help of which prevalence of obesity among
children can be reduced. The main reason because of which this topic has been chosen is because
today due to busy life style parents do not focus upon engaging their children in any kind of
physical activities because of which prevalence of obesity among children is increasing
(Murugesan and et. al., 2018).
The amin reason because of which this topic is important to be chosen is to reduce
prevalence of obesity among children so that overall physical and mental health development of
children be enhanced and increasing suffering of children from serious diseases can be
controlled. UK is one of those countries of UK that has highest child obesity rate as a result it
further becomes even more important to reduce this rate and it can be done easily by engaging
children in physical activities (Byrne, LeMay-Russell and Tanofsky-Kraff, 2019). This study can
2

further help in generating awareness among children and parents so that engagement of children
among activities like playing games, running, walking etc. can be increased. This will not only
help in reducing obesity among children but will further help in controlling prevalence of obesity
among them. Due to this, chosen topic is important and has been selected so that chances of kids
being overweight can be reduced directly.
Aim and objectives
Aim
Main aim of this dissertation is:
To evaluate impact of physical activity in preventing obesity in children in UK
Objectives
Main objectives of this dissertation are as follows:
 To review literature on evaluating prevalence of obesity in Children
 To systematically review impact of physical activity on obesity
 To discuss results of systematic review for understanding impact of physical activity in
preventing obesity in children
Research Question
Main research question focused upon in this dissertation is:
How can physical activity help in preventing Obesity in children in UK?
3

CHAPTER 2- LITERATURE REVIEW
Brief background to topic question
Childhood obesity is one of the main issues of concern in UK because of which overall
physical and mental health and growth of children is affected (Brown and et. al., 2019). As per
current statistics this childhood obesity percentage in UK is increasing year by year because of
which it has become extremely important for to focus upon identifying ways in which obesity in
children can be controlled or prevented. It is important to prevent obesity in children because due
to obesity children can suffer from various kinds of life- threatening diseases at an early age.
Obesity is one of the main issue in UK because most of the parents of obese children are not
even aware of the fact that their children comes under category of obesity or overweight. Many
parents do not even focus upon engaging their children in any kind of games or physical activity
or do not focus upon their diet (Brown and et. al., 2019). Due to which children have high calorie
food, engage in watching television, playing video games etc. As a result, kids are becoming
overweight and their physical as well as mental development is getting affected.
Physical activity is one of the most appropriate intervention that can be focused upon by
children and their parents for preventing obesity among children. Not only this engagement in
physical activity can directly help in proper growth and development of children. There are many
different kinds of physical activities that can directly help children in reducing their weight so
that can come under category of healthy and fit children and this obesity problem in children can
be reduced or prevented in an appropriate and effective manner (Brown and et. al., 2019).
Physical activity can not only help in prevailing obesity in children but can also help in
enhancing overall quality of life of children, enhance their overall physical, mental and
emotional wellbeing in an appropriate and accurate manner. Chances of suffering from disease
such as diabetes etc. can also get reduced. In this literature review previous studies based upon
obesity in children in UK, prevalence of obesity in children through physical activity has been
reviewed.
Presence of obesity in children in UK
According to the view of (World health organization, 2021), obesity is a leading cause that
kills more people as compared to underweight people. It is extremely dangerous for children. As
per recent statistics of WHO it was identified that 39 million children under the age of 5 were
overweight or obese in 2020. This number of obesity among children is increasing year- by year.
4

Statistics of presence of obesity in children in UK clearly helps in explaining that majority of
children who are under 5 years of age group are obese which can directly affect overall health of
children.
Figure 1 perveance of obesity in children where girls are represented in pink and boys in Blue
As per the country profile of WHO UK (Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity. 2021), it
has been identified that children who are up to 11 years old approximately 18 percent children
are obese out of which 18 percent boys and 17 percent girls comes under overweight children in
UK. Whereas in children who are 11- 13 years old. 11 percent boys were obese and 17 percent
girls were obese. On the other in 13 to 15 years old children, 14 percent boys were obese and
only 12 percent girls came into category of obese children.
As per the view of Hills, Andersen and Byrne, (2011) if last five years statis of obesity in
children is considered then it was observed that in last five years there was 3 percent increment
in obese children. Children of age group 11 to 13 years of age are more obese as compared to
other age group children (Kahathuduwa and et. al., 2019). There were no accurate and prevalent
figures present that can clearly help in understanding prevalence of obesity in children who are
0-9 years of age. This issue of obesity is become a problem or issue of concern due to increasing
lavish lifestyle of children and due to increasing usage of technology.
However, as explained by Lloyd and et. al., (2018) approximately 9.9 percent of children
in UK are of age group 4-5 years of age are obese, whereas further 13.1 percent children in same
age group are overweight. Children age the age group of 10-11 years of approximately 21
percent of children are obese and approximately 14 percent children come under category of
overweight children. Below graph can clearly help in understanding ways in which this statistic
is collected as per national child measurement program children who come under category of
obese and overweight children have been explained below in detailed manner. Below table
5

clearly helps in understand number of children who are obese in every thousands of children.
This table cannot only help in gaining understanding of children who are obese but also helps in
understand number of children who are overweight, normal weight and who are underweight. It
is completely clear from these statistics that as compared to underweight children obese and
overweight children are much more.
Impact of obesity in children
According to the view of Lanigan, Tee and Brandreth, (2019) obesity is a complex health
issue in children which is not easy to be understood. Obesity and being overweight can directly
affect children in many different ways. Its impact upon children is in negative manner only that
can not only bring changes in terms of behaviour but it can also bring changes in terms of
genetics, ability of making healthy choices etc. Obesity directly affects or impact behaviour of
children. Consumption and burning of calorie are disturbed and is not reduced or focused upon in
children. It can directly make children lethargic, lazy; their eating habits can change and their
investment on physical activity can get reduced and investment on sedentary activities such as
watching television can increase (Zhang and et. al., 2018). Interest of children in calorie burning
activity can get reduced and it can further affect their growth and development.
As per the view of Brown and et. al., (2019) obesity in children can further affect overall
health of children in many different ways both physically and mentally. Obesity can increase risk
of suffering from life threatening diseases among children such as type 2 diabetes, cancer, heart
diseases, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and many other kinds of diseases. If a child is
obese in excessive manner, then it can affect their mental health as well because due to this
obesity their self-confidence can get reduce, they can suffer from anxiety and many other serious
mental health issues and might feel ashamed of coming in front of anyone. There are many other
6

ways in which obesity in children can affect their physical health. If children suffer from
overweight issue or obesity issue at early age then it can result in increasing joint pain at
extremely early age, breathing issues or problems such as asthma, chronic bronchitis etc.
However, as explained by Spinelli and et. al., (2019) there are many underestimated
impacts of obesity because of which overall growth and development of children can get
affected. Such as excess weight can result in deposition of fat on child’s liver that can further
result in damaging liver. Damage to liver can be quite life threatening for children that can not
only reduce life expectancy of children but can also affect overall quality of life. There are may
other ways in which obesity can affect children. Emotional wellbeing of children can get affect
due to obesity and their self-esteem can also get reduced. It has been observed that most of the
obese children are much more emotional as compared to normal or underweight children. They
easily get paranoid, angry, sad or depressed as compared to other normal children and it can
further affect overall expected quality of life of children
Different ways in which obesity can be prevented or reduced in children.
In accordance with the views of Romieu and et.al., (2017) with the enabling of healthy
diet and nutrition along with focusing over the aspect of avoidance of junk food would play a
major role in reducing and controlling obesity among children. As food is one of the aspect that
would lead to directly impact an individual and its health so with the consideration over the food
and nutrition the obesity would be reduced and minimized at an extensive scale among children.
In the same way as junk food is one of the major reason of obesity among children that with the
non-exposure of junk food would lead to have a direct impact over the children in terms of
reduction of obesity. Likewise, as junk food contain a high proportion of calories that would lead
to raise the proportion of fat in body which would ultimately enhance the chances of obesity
among children (Murugesan and et. al., 2018). Thus, by making an avoidance of junk food and
raising an exposure of healthy diet among individual would directly impact an individual in
terms of reduction of obesity.
However, Messing and et.al., (2019) also state that the although food plays an important
role with the concept of obesity but with the exposure of physical activity, obesity would be
reduced at an extensive scale. This means with the development of habit of children with regard
to playing physical activities and games, obesity would be reduced at a high level. As obesity is
one of the disease that is related with the deposition of fat over in the body and when an
7

individual get exposure with the physical moves and exercises then it would lead to positively
impact an individual in terms of obesity reduction and getting a healthy life. In the same way it is
also to be noted that when the children get engaged in the physical activities in terms of games
then it would lead to make their development along with reduction of obesity. Here it is also
important to be note that along with getting direct exposure towards the physical activities
teachers in the school would also plays a major role in terms of getting them engaged in games
that would further lead to work in the direction of reduction of obesity.
In the same way Bleich and et.al., (2018) also state that with an exposure of healthy diet,
control over the soft drink and sugary drink along with raising the consumption of more water
would lead to reduce the obesity among children. As getting proper diet is important in the same
way controlling over the sugary diet and raise the consumption of water in daily routine would
have a direct and positive impact towards the health of children. This would work at large in
terms of reduction of obesity among them.
On the other hand, Jaacks and et.al., (2019) also annotates that an avoidance of sedentary
lifestyle and get it physically active would lead to have a positive impact towards the health of
children. As watching TV and get engaged on smartphones would lead to have a negative impact
towards the health and it lead to raise the fat among the children. Thus, it is very important that
the sedentary lifestyle would be avoided and children would allow to get exposed with the
physical activities and games. As with the changing time now a days children instead of moving
to playground and get engaged in games and with their friends they are exposed to TV and
mobile phones. This has been developed as a habit among them that after taking meal they get
engaged in mobile. This has later become a major reason of obesity. Thus, in order to reduce the
impact of obesity, an avoidance of sedentary lifestyle is important aspect.
Importance of physical activity on children
According to the view of An and et. al., (2019) physical activities is one of the most
important thing which is required to be focused upon in children as it can directly help in
bringing improvement within overall fitness level of children can be enhanced. As obesity is one
of the main and most important issue among children so by increasing overall physical activity
of children, obesity issue among them can be controlled in an easy manner. Today due to
advancement in technology, physical activity among children has been reduced as result most of
the children today are living a lethargic lifestyle. This is mainly due to lack of physical activity
8

among children. Increasing physical activity level among children can directly help in bringing
activeness among them. Not only this, it can further help in reducing chances of suffering from
obesity, over weight issues etc. it can further help in enhancement of mental health and chances
of suffering from depression, anxiety etc. issues associated with mental and emotional health can
be reduced easily.
As per the view of Brown and et. al., (2019) physical activity is extremely among
children as it directly helps in overall development and growth of children in an appropriate and
effective manner. Adequate level of physical activity among lifestyle of children can directly
help in strengthening muscles and bones of children, it can directly help in bringing
improvement within balancing and coordination of kids. Not only this, it can further help in
bringing improvement within overall balancing of children which can further reduce changes of
suffering from health issues such as cardiac issuers, diabetes, etc. as these health issues mostly
occur in children who comes under category of over- weight and obesity.
However, Lee, and Yoon, (2018) further elaborates that, in most of the kids it has been
observed that children who are not fit and are obese are likely to be less confident, are conscious
of their appearance, easily get discouraged and anxious. But increasing level of physical activity
among those children’s life can directly help in increasing confidence level of children, they can
further feel a bit relaxed, get along with others more easily as well as their confidence level can
get enhanced in more appropriate and accurate manner. physical activity among children further
help in defining their participation in learning and participating among plying activities.
Adequate level of physical activity among children’s daily routine can help in bringing
improvement within concentration level of children in terms of learning, as well as can further
enhance their interest in learning new things in an appropriate and effective manner. increasing
physical activity among children can further help in increasing their concentration. It can further
increase their energetic participation within task and activities in an appropriate and effective
manner. but in order to enhance positive results of physical activity among children it is
important to identify adequate level of physical activity for different age group children.
Ways in which physical activity can help in preventing obesity in children
According to the view of Robinson and et. al., (2017) physical activity plays a vital and
important role in preventing obesity among children. Increasing level of physical activity in
children is one of the best way of bringing positive changes within their life style. Physical
9

activity can directly help in reducing loss of lean mass and increase excessive fat. Effective level
of physical activity can directly help in losing excessive weight. There various other studies that
can directly help in identifying important of physical activity among children and its role in
management of weight, maintain overall health of children and prevent them from suffering from
obesity (Elmesmari, R., and et. al., 2018). Engaging children in physical activity can directly
help in increasing level of activeness among children and help in reducing their indulgences
within Television, computer, video games etc. that are main source of increasing weight and
reduced physical activity.
As per the view of Anderson and Durstine, (2019) effectively increasing level of physical
activity among children can directly help in preventing children from becoming obese or gaining
weight. As childhood is one of the most crucial time when obesity can develop and children can
become over weight. There are many different ways in which obesity can be prevented with the
help of physical activity. Children can be engaged in playing games, sports etc. It can further
result in reducing chances of suffering from diseases associated with obesity. Parents who live a
healthy life style and engage in more physical activities can directly help their children in
increasing their level of physical activity. As they can be an example for their children as
children are likely to do same things as their parents. Indulgence of children in physical activity
can directly help in reducing their sitting or laying activities such as watching television, playing
video games etc. numerous studies helps in understanding sitting, laying and getting indulged in
such kind of activities is one of the main reasons because of which obesity among children is
increasing or they are becoming overweight. Physical activity can directly help in reducing these
activities which eventually helps in preventing children from becoming obese.
However, Aggarwal and Jain, (2018) further elaborates that, there are many other ways
through which physical activity can help in preventing obesity among children. It can help
enhancing overall stamina and metabolism of children that can not only help children in
remaining healthy and fit but can also help them in digesting their food properly. This can further
help in reducing chances of over eating and eventually help in preventing obesity. Engagement
of children in any kind of physical activity can further result in weight loss and maintain weight
of children under healthy kids’ category. It further help in increasing water intake among
children this is because it can directly help in reducing excessive calorie intake which eventually
leads to reduction of weight loss.
10

CHAPTER 3- METHODOLOGY
Systematic review and its purpose
Systematic review is a kind of review of clear formulated questions using systematic
methods for identifying and critically appraising relevant research for collecting and analysing
data from selected studies that are required to be included within review (Elliott and et. al.,
2017). High quality of systematic review help in describing most reliable source of evidence in
clinical practice. The main purpose because of which systematic review is being conducted is to
deliver summary of available primary research in the selected research area in response to main
research question. The are various number of reasons because of which systematic review is
being conducted. It is being conducted so that studies conducted in the selected filed of research
can be reviewed and findings of those research can be used for answering main research question
in appropriate manner. In this research, systematic review of various studies is being conducted
for identifying ways in which physical activity can help in preventing Obesity in children in UK.
Databases used
In order to select appropriate studies for systematic review it is important to identify
appropriate databases that can be used for searching for appropriate studies to be reviewed.
Databases used for searching for appropriate studies are: Google Scholar, PubMed, and Science
Direct. Using these databases 6 main studies to be reviewed were identified in an appropriate
manner.
Key words or search terms
Some of the main key words or search terms used for searching for appropriate studies to
be reviewed are as follows:
MeSH Terms Key words or search terms
Preventing Obesity, children, physical activity, Over- weight, excessive eating, physical
activity, obesity, prevalence, children, United
Kingdom, reducing, barriers, interventions.
Above identified are the main key words or searching terms that were used for searching
appropriate search articles or studies to be reviewed systematic for answering main question
which is to identify ways in which physical activity can reduce obesity among children in UK.
11

Detail PICO
PICO question to be answered in this research paper is:
P: Participant/ population- over weight and obese children below 18 years living in UK
I: Intervention- physical activity for reducing obesity
C: Comparison- providing parental education about children’s diet
O: Outcome- prevention of obesity among children
From the above PICO framework research question formed is:
How can physical activity help in preventing Obesity in children in UK?
Research type
Research type is a logical and systematic way in which research is done. It directly helps in
identifying ways in which data is required to be collected and analysed (Adhabi and Anozie,
2017). For this systematic review qualitative research type has been selected. This method has
been selected because there are various kinds of qualitative studies available in selected research
area that can be selected and reviewed for answering main research questions. It is an appropriate
research type that can be selected because it is less generic and can directly help in understanding
main reasons because of which obesity among children of UK is prevailing.
Inclusion and Exclusion criteria
Information and data published after 2011, has been selected in project within this research
where it is authentic and also holds precise aspects for attaining accurate functional findings for
connected growth. It is highly essential for understanding inclusion and exclusion criteria, and
generate productive authenticity of research findings within report for using only informative
data presented in structured format. The inclusion factor also holds specific factor, to further
intricately use new optimum parameters for generating proper synchronized working targets
diversely and use accurate findings (Pereira and et.al, 2021). Inclusion criteria will be also
measured by using information, articles only published in English language which form base of
research for further enhancing working results The exclusion factor holds specific focus, where
data and articles published before 2011 will not be used up in research for keeping ethical
reliability maintained. Exclusion, will be also essentially done by taking essential care of reliable
functional information which are relevant to recent years of research within same horizons of
research. Inclusion of only latest articles, will significantly expand accuracy of information and
generate key findings towards research results accuracy parameters. Also criteria specifically
12

focus on fact that research will use only recent latest information results, for strengthening
vitality measures and also functionally enhance working parameters significantly. The exclusion
will also enable to use data potentially by taking significant care of reliable information and
enhance operative aspects innovatively. The inclusion and exclusion criteria, will also enable to
get precise authentic information attained up for strengthened validity and to evolve on new
efficacy parameters (Alman and et.al, 2021).
Results included and ways in which filtration of those results were done using PRISM FLOW
DATA FORMAT
PRISM flow data format plays keen role in recent research, where this further evolves significant
rise on new optimum working analysis of all data specifically worked on in research.
Results have been filtrated by using PRISM flow of data format, which has enabled only
usage of accurate findings where first stage is identificatio (Thomas, 2021).
At first 134 records have been identified connected to findings, resourced from PubMed,
google scholar and google. At the second stage of screening, records after duplicates have been
removed after which only 33 records are left. This has been done to eliminate all duplicate data
findings and only use authentic records for research. Researcher has also further screened
records, where evaluation of titles and abstract enabled to gain accurate findings worked on
productively. Screening enabled to generate accuracy checked up within research findings, for
operative focus towards keeping up quality of standards evolved. The eligibility parameter also
evolved rise on full text articles, which further synchronized systematic management. Screening
enabled to generate accuracy checked up within research findings, for operative focus towards
keeping up quality of standards evolved. The eligibility parameter also evolved rise on full text
articles assessed for eligibility, where records excluded full text articles, where full text
duplication has been avoided. Studies included in qualitative research has been found to be also
essential for further integrating functional analysis. Results included in research has been found
to be also advanced up for strengthening vital accuracy aspects, which also determine optimum
scope for using effective research findings diversely (Nayak and Singh, 2021).
13

Articles filtered
Tool that will be used to critique each article
For critiquing each article CASP tool will be used. This tool is used for appraising each
study or article by answering few checklist questions for appraising a study in a systematic
manner. It is extremely important to critique each article in order to understand whether it is
appropriate to include selected articles or studies within the dissertation or not. Critical appraisal
of selected studies using CASP tool have been done below:
CASP tool
questions
Hills,
Andersen
and Byrne,
2011
Statistics on
Obesity,
Physical
Activity and
Diet, 2017
Lloyd and
et. al., 2018
Martin and
et. al., 2018
Narzisi and
Simons,
2020
Statistics
on Obesity,
Physical
Activity
and Diet,
England,
14

2020
Did study
address clearly
focused
questions?
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Did author
look at right
typed papers?
Yes It was a
statistics
conducted by
NHS
No, as in
this primary
data was
collected by
researcher
Yes Yes It was a
statistics
conducted
by NHS
Were all
important
studies
included?
Can’t tell It was a
statistics
conducted by
NHS
No, as in
this primary
data was
collected by
researcher
No as
inclusion and
exclusion
criteria was
set
No die to
inclusion and
exclusion
criteria some
important
studies were
explained
It was a
statistics
conducted
by NHS
Did the author
access high
quality
studies?
Can’t tell Yes No, as in
this primary
data was
collected by
researcher
Yes Yes It was a
statistics
conducted
by NHS
Were all the
results
combined
Yes Yes Yes Yes No, some of
them were
not combined
with final
results
Yes
Were results of
study clear
Yes Yes Yes Yes Can’t tell Yes
Were results
precise
Yes Yes Yes No as results
of different
No, as results
of some
Yes
15

studies varied studies varied
Can it be
applied to
local
population
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Were all
important
outcomes
considered
Yes Yes Yes Can’t tell Yes Yes
Were benefits
of study worth
cost?
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Result table for explanation of each article
Authors and date Question Number of
patients
Method Results
Hills, Andersen and
Byrne, 2011
What are the
main reasons
because of
which children
and adolescents
become obese
and overweight
and what are the
ways in which
they can be
prevented?
Secondary data
collected
Qualitative
method
engagement of
children and
adolescents in
physical activity
and sport is a
fundamental
goal of obesity
prevention
Statistics on Obesity,
Physical Activity and Diet,
2017
Relationship
between
obesity,
physical activity
Population of
England
Statistical
method
Mote than 69
percent of obese
people are of
more than 35
16

years of age
Lloyd and et. al., 2018 Whether a
school-based
intervention for
children aged
9–10 years
would prevent
excessive
weight gain
after 24 months.
1244 children of
16 schools
Quantitative
analysis
methods
School-based
interventions
might not be
sufficiently
intense to affect
both the school
and the family
environment,
and hence the
weight status of
children.
Martin and et. al., 2018 Whether
lifestyle
interventions
future success
in children and
adolescents
with obesity or
overweight,
compared with
standard care
Secondary data Quantitative
data analysis
method
School and
community-
based physical
activity
interventions
can benefit
children with
obesity or
overweight
specifically
Narzisi and Simons, 2020 What
interventions
are being
carried out to
promote healthy
weight in
children under
the age of five
and how are
Secondary data Systematic
review method
Provision of
monetary
incentives or a
stipend to
parents can help
in involving
parents in
intervention to
promote healthy
17

effective
outcomes
achieved?
weight in
children under
the age of five
for achievement
of effective
outcome.
Statistics on Obesity,
Physical Activity and Diet,
England, 2020
How are
obesity,
physical activity
and diet related
to each other?
People of
England
Statistical
method
20 percent
children of
England are
obese who are 6
years old.
Engaging
children in
physical activity
can directly
help in reducing
prevalence of
obesity among
children.
Critique and analysis of each article
Physical activity and obesity in children
Obesity is affecting most of the children globally and its prevalence among children is
increasing drastically. Adoption of physical activity as an intervention can directly help in
preventing obesity prevalence among children and adolescents. Not only this it can further help
in reducing risk of suffering from obesity in adulthood. Parents and schools should focus upon
engaging children and adolescents into physical activities so that chances of suffering from
obesity among children can be reduced.
Statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity and Diet, 2017
18

Obesity is one of the most prevailing factors to be focused upon among children. 1out of
3 children who are 6 years old suffer from obesity. NHS hospital observed that about 60 percent
of patients admitted to hospital suffered from obesity. It has further been observed that most of
the population who suffer from obesity in adulthood first suffered from obesity in childhood.
Physical activity adoption as a part of lifestyle can directly help in supporting physical
development of children and can further result in reducing chances of prevalence of obesity
among children.
Effectiveness of the Healthy Lifestyles Programme (HeLP) to prevent obesity in UK
primary-school children: a cluster randomised controlled trial
Prevalence of obesity of overweight issue is increasing globally. Due to this it becomes
important to focus upon developing school- based intervention so that weight gain among
children of 9- 10 years of age can be reduced. In order to identify effectiveness of school- based
intervention randomized control trial method has been used to identify whether healthy lifestyle
program of school interventions can help in prevailing obesity among children. Overall, 1244
children participated in this project and helped in identifying whether these school interventions
are effective and can help in reducing obesity prevalence or not. But study results clearly heled
in identifying that school interventions are not sufficient enough to prevent obesity in children
Physical activity, diet and other behavioural interventions for improving cognition and
school achievement in children and adolescents with obesity or overweight
This article further explains prevalence of obesity among children and ways in which
change in lifestyle by eating healthy can bring changes within children, additionally adoption of
physical activity within daily routine life can help in reducing chances of suffering from obesity.
For this, secondary research was conducted in which 18 studies were selected by researcher that
helped in explaining that combination of physical activity and healthy diet can help in reducing
chances of suffering from obesity and overweight issues by children.
Interventions that prevent or reduce obesity in children from birth to five years of age: A
systematic review
This study clearly heled in identifying that 5.6 percent of children globally comes under
category of obese or overweight people. Studies collected from different online databases clearly
heled in understanding education about healthy diet, and physical activities focus by families can
19

help in preventing childhood obesity. From all the thirty studies it was identified that
involvement of families can directly help in reducing prevalence of obesity among children.
Statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity and Diet, England, 2020
As per this study it has been identified that in order to reduce chances of children suffering
from obesity it is important to focus upon drawing attention to both physical exercise and diet
together. Using data visualization toolkit data from various hospitals about obese people or
children were analysed for identifying prevalence of obesity. It was further identified that obesity
prevalence among young adults and children is increasing continuously globally that can be
prevented and controlled with the help of physical activity.
Conclusion with synopsis of results
From the above results it can be concluded that obesity is one of the main and major area
of concern which is required to be focused upon by within children. Obesity prevalence among
children is one of the most important and serious issue. It is important to focus upon identifying
ways in which obesity can be prevailed among children. There are many different kinds of
interventions that can be focused upon for reducing chances of prevalence of obesity and
overweight issues within children so that risk of suffering from obesity in adulthood can be
reduced. It was identified that physical activity is one of the most important type of intervention
that can directly help in reducing obesity among children.
Discussion of original questions and literature review
From this discussion it has been identified that there are some of the main themes that
emerge from these studies that can help in achieving main aim of the dissertation in an
appropriate manner. First theme is prevalence of obesity among children globally, second themes
is identification of different type of intervention that can be focused upon for reducing impact of
obesity among children and third theme impact of physical exercise or activity for reducing
chances of prevalence of obesity among children.
DISCUSSION
Summary
From the above dissertation it has been identified that obesity is one of the main type of
issues that has impacted lifestyle of children, adolescents, young adults, older people etc which is
impacting their livelihood in a serious manner. Focus upon identifying ways in which obesity
can be reduced and its prevalence can be reduced is important. It has further been summarized
20

that in order to reduce chances of children suffering from overweight issue it is extremely
important for both families and school to work upon different type of interventions
simultaneously and put their efforts to reduce over weight. Both families and school can help
children in enhancing their overall physical activity in an appropriate manner. Physical activity
can not only help in reducing weight of children but will also help in reducing risk of prevalence
of obesity among children.
Connection between articles and literature review
Both literature review and articles are interrelated to each other. Literature review clearly
helps in explaining that obesity is a main and serious issue among children. Year by year obesity
prevalence in UK are increasing. Whereas articles help in understanding that obesity or
overweight issue is not a UK specific issue but it is a global issue and its prevalence globally is
increasing. Literature review clearly helps in explaining that children suffer from obesity much
whereas articles explain that obesity is an area of concern for all age group people. Literature
review clearly helps in understanding that obesity impact among children is serious. It is making
children lazy, lethargic. Not only this, their eating habits are also changing continuously. Due to
this their chances of suffering from obesity increases but no such thing or impact have been
explained in articles.
Elements missing in literature that have been researched so far
There are many different kinds of elements that have been missing from the literature and
have been researched so far in this dissertation. Impact of obesity upon health of children have
not been focused upon and is missing from the literature but it has been researched for
identifying its impact upon health of children. This directly helps in further identifying
importance of this topic for research. Not only this, literature also misses main reason because of
which issues of obesity are increasing but in this, different reasons of prevalence have ben
studied and understood.
LIMITATIONS
The limitations of study is based on aspects, where evaluation of preventing obesity in
children is only limited to UK Where this shows limitation is only based till only obesity in
health parameters. Research has also only shed light only on obesity impact among children,
which shows that age factor and limitation of children in analysis. The analysis of research in
study is also correlated to bring on limitation, where obesity has been found to be only one
21

aspect. There are various other health risks factors associated with children, due to various
changes in lifestyle parameters where this also has been identified as major parameter evolving
as concern. Limited research is also done with shortage of resources, cost and time factors where
it may further impact productivity of research findings (Stavridou and et.al, 2021).
This has been also found to be one of the major factor where research is limited towards
findings of impact from obesity among children which has been lacking benchmarks within
longer run. Systematic review done on report is limited to findings of research, where accurate
analysis further lacks proper adoption of proper research findings. The limitation factor holds
essential aspect, as it further plays critical role for operative analysis and in further enhancing
new parameters of research findings significantly. The research on obesity impact among
children is limited towards findings, as new aspects on further extended determinants have to be
further analyzed. Proper new parameters of time, resources and cost factor holds high essential
importance in recent horizons where there further needs to be evolved (Singhal and et.al, 2020).
Recommendations
The research further has varied scope towards evolving new practices to reduce obesity
among children, where this also critically can be understood by strengthening vital parameters
for improvising health factors among children. Children should be taken care, further deliver
proper check on their proper weight management which will enable them to be fit and also
improvise proper evolved health. Recommendations, will further improvise health of students,
young children within their body from younger age and also make them health conscious from
younger age. There are various healthcare practices, healthy eating practices which will motivate
children to evolve on proper diet and reduce obesity ( Todendi and et.al, 2021).
Children should be given healthy eating practices, and indulge in healthy eating practices
where they should be motivated towards healthy lunch and breakfasts for proper health. This will
also keep up with healthy eating check up and also weight of children will be effectively
monitored. Healthy eating should be also monitored, practiced by guidance among teachers and
parents of children for also improvising their health further. It can be also analyzed that children
obesity should be also checked, by further creating motivation to reduce obesity. Outdoor
physical activities, and games enable children to be active in plays and also further be fit. This
will enable them to be active towards better health, and also keep their physical activity checked
22

up for strengthening physical abilities. At this point, children parents and teachers at school plays
essential role for further improvising proper weight management (Eow and et.al, 2021)
Children should be indulged in outdoor physical activities, and generate play
participation in various games which will make them physically active for reducing obesity.
There has been also analysis done, where rescent findings have also shed light on data findings
where children should be given healthy eating practices and food from young age. This will also
evolve rise towards strengthened improvement in generating proper check on their weight
management significantly. Also, by keeping check on obesity and overweight there will be
proper management of healthy body weight practices among children. This will also improvise
health of children, motivate them to be fit and also derive motivation to generally be in ideal
weight.
Research findings have also found that children should be also taken to proper regular
healthcare check ups within month, where it will enable them to be fit and generate optimum
diet. Doctors should be giving proper diet and food specifics to children, for making
improvements in their health parameters. They should be motivated to have calcium rich, fiber
nutritious food from young age where this will make them healthy from young age. Also
indulging in group seminars about healthy eating in children and weight management, will
further improvise health among children. Recent finding has also evolved, rise on parameters
where they should be given proper healthy fruits and lunch in school. This will also primitively
determine new parameters, to further evolve on healthy weight management for extended scope
dynamically towards healthy weight ( Liberali and et.al, 2021).
23

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Adhabi, E. and Anozie, C.B., 2017. Literature review for the type of interview in qualitative
research. International Journal of Education, 9(3), pp.86-97.
Aggarwal, B. and Jain, V., 2018. Obesity in children: definition, etiology and approach. The
Indian Journal of Pediatrics, 85(6), pp.463-471.
Alman, K L ,and et.al, , 2021. Dietetic management of obesity and severe obesity in children
and adolescents: A scoping review of guidelines. Obesity Reviews, 22(1), p.e13132.
Alman, K. L., and et. al., 2021. Dietetic management of obesity and severe obesity in children
and adolescents: A scoping review of guidelines. Obesity Reviews, 22(1), p.e13132.
Amin, M.M., and et. al., 2018. Association of urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites
with cardiometabolic risk factors and obesity in children and
adolescents. Chemosphere, 211, pp.547-556.
An, R., and et. al., 2019. Impact of built environment on physical activity and obesity among
children and adolescents in China: a narrative systematic review. Journal of sport and
health science, 8(2), pp.153-169.
Anderson, E. and Durstine, J.L., 2019. Physical activity, exercise, and chronic diseases: A brief
review. Sports Medicine and Health Science, 1(1), pp.3-10.
Brown, T., and et. al., 2019. Interventions for preventing obesity in children. Cochrane Database
of Systematic Reviews, (7).
Byrne, M.E., LeMay-Russell, S. and Tanofsky-Kraff, M., 2019. Loss-of-control eating and
obesity among children and adolescents. Current obesity reports, 8(1), pp.33-42.
Elliott, J.H., and et. al., 2017. Living systematic review: 1. Introduction—the why, what, when,
and how. Journal of clinical epidemiology, 91, pp.23-30.
Elmesmari, R., and et. al., 2018. Comparison of accelerometer measured levels of physical
activity and sedentary time between obese and non-obese children and adolescents: a
systematic review. BMC pediatrics, 18(1), pp.1-22.
Eow, S. Y ,and et.al, 2021. Parental Feeding Practices and Child-Related Factors are Associated
with Overweight and Obesity in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum
Disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, pp.1-13.
Hills, A.P., Andersen, L.B. and Byrne, N.M., 2011. Physical activity and obesity in
children. British journal of sports medicine, 45(11), pp.866-870.
Kahathuduwa, C.N., and et. al., 2019. The risk of overweight and obesity in children with autism
spectrum disorders: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Obesity Reviews, 20(12),
pp.1667-1679.
Lanigan, J., Tee, L. and Brandreth, R., 2019. Childhood obesity. Medicine, 47(3), pp.190-194.
Lee, E.Y. and Yoon, K.H., 2018. Epidemic obesity in children and adolescents: risk factors and
prevention. Frontiers of medicine, 12(6), pp.658-666.
Liberali, R ,and et.al, 2021. Latent Class Analysis of Lifestyle Risk Factors and Association
with Overweight and/or Obesity in Children and Adolescents: Systematic
Review. Childhood Obesity, 17(1), pp.2-15.
Lloyd, J., and et. al., 2018. Effectiveness of the Healthy Lifestyles Programme (HeLP) to prevent
obesity in UK primary-school children: a cluster randomised controlled trial. The
Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, 2(1), pp.35-45.
24

Morrissey, B., and et. al., 2020. Sleep and obesity among children: a systematic review of
multiple sleep dimensions. Pediatric obesity, 15(4), p.e12619.
Murugesan, S., and et. al., 2018. Gut microbiome production of short-chain fatty acids and
obesity in children. European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious
Diseases, 37(4), pp.621-625.
Nayak, J.K. and Singh, P., 2021. Fundamentals of Research Methodology Problems and
Prospects. SSDN Publishers & Distributors.
Pereira, L.,and et.al, 2021. Pereira problem solving: Business research methodology to explore
open innovation. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and
Complexity, 7(1), p.84.
Poursafa, P., and et. al., 2018. Association of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with
cardiometabolic risk factors and obesity in children. Environment international, 118,
pp.203-210.
Robinson, T.N., and et. al., 2017. Screen media exposure and obesity in children and
adolescents. Pediatrics, 140(Supplement 2), pp.S97-S101.
Singhal,J ,and et.al, 2021. Effectiveness of school‐based interventions to prevent obesity among
children aged 4 to 12 years old in middle‐income countries: A systematic review and
meta‐analysis. Obesity Reviews, 22(1), p.e13105.
Spinelli, A., and et. al., 2019. Prevalence of severe obesity among primary school children in 21
European countries. Obesity facts, 12(2), pp.244-258.
Stavridou, A ,and et.al, 2021. Obesity in Children and Adolescents during COVID-19
Pandemic. Children, 8(2), p.135.
Thomas, C. G., 2021. Research methodology and scientific writing. Springer Nature.
Todendi, P.F ,and et.al, 2021. Physical fitness attenuates the genetic predisposition to obesity in
children and adolescents. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 31(4),
pp.894-902.
Zhang, J., and et. al., 2018. Prevalence and stabilizing trends in overweight and obesity among
children and adolescents in China, 2011-2015. BMC Public Health, 18(1), pp.1-7.
Online
WHO UK country profile. Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity. 2021. [Online]. Available
through:< https://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/243335/United-
Kingdom-WHO-Country-Profile.pdf>
World health Organization. 2021. [Online]. Available through:< https://www.who.int/news-
room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight >.
25