Research published in Obesity Reviews found that programmes delivered or referred to by primary care health providers led to improvements in weight outcomes for children.
Conducted by academics from Loughborough University’s Centre for Lifestyle Medicine and Behaviour (CLiMB), the study analysed evidence from 59 randomised controlled trials involving more than 10,000 children and adolescents.
Researchers examined behavioural interventions programmes that had been delivered in primary care settings or via referrals by primary care health professionals.
These included initiatives that supported healthier eating, encouraged increased physical activity, and resources that promoted wider behaviour change.
Findings showed that behavioural interventions were associated with significant reductions in the children’s BMI-for-age scores and body mass index (BMI).
Across the trials, children participating in interventions experienced a mean reduction in their BMI-z score of −0.08 and BMI of −0.37 kg/m2 compared with children who did not take part in those activities at one year after starting the interventions
Professor Amanda Daley, the lead author on the project, explained: “Whilst the effects seen in this study are relatively modest in size, even small amounts of weight loss that are maintained are important for health.
“It is important that we have effective ways to help children manage their weight and primary care plays an integral role in achieving this.”
The study also found that interventions referred from primary care to community-based programmes appeared more effective than those delivered entirely within primary care clinics.
This finding suggests that partnerships between healthcare services and community programmes may strengthen support for families to support children to maintain a healthy weight.
Professor Daley continued: “The NHS 10 plan has a focus on a neighbourhood health service, and reducing obesity rates in children should be an important part of this strategy. We want our children to thrive and live well, and this has to include encouraging healthy eating and regular physical activity in children at every opportunity.”
Dr Claire Madigan added: “We don’t want to wait until children are adults to utilise the anti-obesity medications in adulthood to help people lose weight. Helping children living with obesity to manage their weight will help prevent future disease.”
Additional researchers on the project included Dr Claire Madigan, Dr James Sanders, Dr Natalie Pearson, Dr Kajal Gokal, Jessica Large, Dr Chris McLeod, and Dr Henrietta Graham.