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Excess Weight, Dietary Habits and Physical Activity in Children and...
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Excess Weight, Dietary Habits and Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 27727

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Rossella Sacchetti

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Education Studies “Giovanni Maria Bertin”, University of Bologna, 1088 Bologna, Italy
Interests: nutrition; dietary habits; lifestyle medicine; public health; health promotion
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Alice Masini

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont Amedeo Avogadro, 28100 Novara, Italy
Interests: lifestyle medicine, health promotion and prevention interventions; physical activity and nutrition
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Improving dietary healthy habits and overall active lifestyle in childhood is a key health promotion strategy [1,2]. Even if public health campaigns have been an effective tool to improve the overall well-being of individuals, [3,4] most children and adolescents still do not follow an optimal lifestyle, have an unbalanced diet, and do little physical activity (PA) [5-7]. Childhood overweight/obesity represents a major issue in most countries [8,9], where it has increased considerably over the last 30 years [9]. Specifically, there is a need for a cultural shift in terms of food choice, and reconciliation of the idea of a modern lifestyle with a healthy one. Admittedly, these challenges cannot be addressed without assessing the importance of schools and their curricula, particularly for their pivotal role in educating youth about healthy behaviors and lifestyles [10-12]. Alongside schools, parental food habits and feeding strategies are closely related to obesity in children [13-15].

The aim of this Special Issue of Healthcare is to provide an update on the latest evidence on these topics, in particular on the relation between excess weight, physical activity and dietary habits in youth.

We are also seeking studies that investigate new approaches or innovative strategies for promoting a healthy lifestyle among children and adolescents. This Special Issue is open to original research, review articles, short reports, brief commentaries, case reports, and meta-analyses.

References

  1. Bull, F.C.; Al-Ansari, S.S.; Biddle, S.; Borodulin, K.; Buman, M.P.; Cardon, G.; Carty, C.; Chaput, J.-P.; Chastin, S.; Chou, R.; et al. World Health Organization 2020 guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour. J. Sports Med. 2020, 54, 1451–1462.
  2. World Health Organization. Healthy Diet. Available online: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/healthy-diet (accessed on 7 September 2022).
  3. Bradley, J.; Gardner, G.; Rowland, M.K.; Fay, M.; Mann, K.; Holmes, R.; Foster, E.; Exley, C.; Bosco, A.D.; Hugueniot, O.; et al. Impact of a health marketing campaign on sugars intake by children aged 5–11 years and parental views on reducing children’s consumption. BMC Public Health 2020, 20, 331.
  4. Khow, Y.Z.; Lim, T.L.Y.; Ng, J.S.P.; Wu, J.; Tan, C.S.; Chia, K.S.; Luo, N.; Seow, W.J. Behavioral impact of national health campaigns on healthy lifestyle practices among young adults in Singapore: A cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health 2021, 21, 1601.
  5. Konstabel, K.; Veidebaum, T.; Verbestel, V.; Moreno, L.A.; Bammann, K.; Tornaritis, M.; Eiben, G.; Molnár, D.; Siani, A.; Sprengeler, O.; et al. Objectively measured physical activity in European children: The IDEFICS study. J. Obes. 2014, 38, S135–S143.
  6. García Cabrera, S.; Herrera Fernández, N.; Rodríguez Hernández, C.; Nissensohn, M.; Román-Viñas, B.; Serra-Majem, L. Kidmed test; prevalence of low adherence to the mediterranean diet in children and young; a systematic review. Hosp. 2015, 32, 2390–2399.
  7. Rosi, A.; Paolella, G.; Biasini, B.; Scazzina, F.; SINU Working Group on Nutritional Surveillance in Adolescents. Dietary habits of adolescents living in North America, Europe or Oceania: A review on fruit, vegetable and legume consumption, sodium intake, and adherence to the Mediterranean Diet. Metab. Cardiovasc. Dis. 2019, 29, 544–560.
  8. Global Burden of Disease Collaborative Network. Global Burden of Disease Study 2016 (GBD 2016). Health-Related Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Indicators 1990–2030; Global Burden of Disease Collaborative Network; Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME): Seattle, WA, USA, 2017.
  9. The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health. No one is exempt in the fight against childhood obesity. Lancet Child Adolesc. 2017, 1, 79.
  10. Lazzeri, G.; Pammolli, A.; Pilato, V.; Giacchi, M.V. Relationship between 8/9-yr-old school children BMI, parents’ BMI and educational level: A cross sectional survey. J. 2011, 10, 76. https://doi.org/10.1186/1475-2891-10-76.
  11. Chaudhary, A.; Sudzina, F.; Mikkelsen, B.E. Promoting Healthy Eating among Young People-A Review of the Evidence of the Impact of School-Based Interventions. Nutrients 2020, 12, 2894.
  12. Andueza, N.; Navas-Carretero, S.; Cuervo, M. Effectiveness of Nutritional Strategies on Improving the Quality of Diet of Children from 6 to 12 Years Old: A Systematic Review. Nutrients 2022, 14, 372.
  13. Gätjens, I.; Hasler, M.; di Giuseppe, R.; Bosy-Westphal, A.; Plachta-Danielzik, S. Family and Lifestyle Factors Mediate the Relationship between Socioeconomic Status and Fat Mass in Children and Adolescents. Facts 2020, 13, 596–607. https://doi.org/10.1159/000511927.
  14. del Mar Bibiloni, M.; Pons, A.; Tur, J.A. Compliance with the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index (KIDMED) among Balearic Islands’ Adolescents and Its Association with Socioeconomic, Anthropometric and Lifestyle Factors. Nutr. Metab. 2016, 68, 42–50. https://doi.org/10.1159/000442302.
  15. Morgan, E.H.; Schoonees, A.; Sriram, U.; Faure, M.; Seguin-Fowler, R.A. Caregiver involvement in interventions for improving children’s dietary intake and physical activity behaviors. Cochrane Database Syst. Rev. 2020, 1. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD012547.pub2.

Dr. Rossella Sacchetti
Dr. Alice Masini
Guest Editors

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Physical activity
  • Healthy diet
  • Exercise
  • Food
  • Health
  • Healthcare
  • Anthropometric condition
  • School
  • Policies

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 1129 KiB  
Article
Epidemiological Overview of Overweight and Obesity Related to Eating Habits, Physical Activity and the Concurrent Presence of Depression and Anxiety in Adolescents from High Schools in Mexico City: A Cross-Sectional Study
by Rey Gutiérrez Tolentino, Irina Lazarevich, Manuel Abraham Gómez Martínez, Jorge Armando Barriguete Meléndez, Beatriz Schettino Bermúdez, José Jesús Pérez González, Rubén del Muro Delgado and Claudia Cecilia Radilla Vázquez
Healthcare 2024, 12(6), 604; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12060604 - 7 Mar 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3025
Abstract
Overweight and obesity in adolescents has become a serious public health problem worldwide and Mexico City is no exception. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the epidemiological panorama of overweight and obesity related to eating habits, physical activity and the [...] Read more.
Overweight and obesity in adolescents has become a serious public health problem worldwide and Mexico City is no exception. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the epidemiological panorama of overweight and obesity related to eating habits, physical activity and the concurrent presence of depression and anxiety in adolescents from high schools in Mexico City. Anthropometric measurements were taken from 2710 adolescents from 33 participating high schools. Likewise, a previously validated eating habit and physical activity questionnaire was administered, which consisted of four different sections, where each of the sections focused on key aspects of the participants’ lifestyle: (1) eating habits, (2) intake of non-recommended foods, (3) food and company environment, and (4) physical activity. Moreover, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) for anxiety and depression was applied. In this study, a high prevalence of overweight and obesity (26.5% overweight and 20.0% obese) was found in adolescents from high schools in Mexico City. Only 13.14% of participants had adequate eating habits and 18.19% physical activity habits. An association was found between having inadequate eating habits and obesity in adolescent women (OR = 1.95; CI 1.009–3.76). Additionally, associations were observed between depression symptoms and obesity (OR = 5.68, CI 1.36–32.81; p = 0.01), while anxiety was associated with underweight and obesity adjusted by other dietary habits and psychological factors. Therefore, it is important to identify adolescents with overweight or obesity and establish prevention strategies for weight control in this age group, promoting healthy eating, physical activity and education in mental health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Excess Weight, Dietary Habits and Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents)
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19 pages, 1419 KiB  
Article
Investigating Eating Habits of Children Aged between 6 Months and 3 Years in the Provinces of Modena and Reggio Emilia: Is Our Kids’ Diet Sustainable for Their and the Planet’s Health?
by Lucia Palandri, Laura Rocca, Maria Rosaria Scasserra, Giacomo Pietro Vigezzi, Anna Odone, Lorenzo Iughetti, Laura Lucaccioni and Elena Righi
Healthcare 2024, 12(4), 453; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12040453 - 10 Feb 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2679
Abstract
A healthy and balanced diet is crucial for children’s well-being and aids in preventing diet-related illnesses. Furthermore, unhealthy dietary habits indirectly impact children’s health, as the food industry stands as one of the primary drivers of climate change. Evidence shows the Mediterranean diet [...] Read more.
A healthy and balanced diet is crucial for children’s well-being and aids in preventing diet-related illnesses. Furthermore, unhealthy dietary habits indirectly impact children’s health, as the food industry stands as one of the primary drivers of climate change. Evidence shows the Mediterranean diet is sustainable for both children’s and the planet’s health. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the eating habits of children aged between 6 months and 3 years, in the province of Modena and Reggio Emilia, in Italy, along with their adherence to the guidelines for a healthy diet, and examine the role of pediatricians in promoting knowledge about nutrition and sustainability. In our sample (218 children), most children exceeded the recommended meat and cheese intake, while consuming insufficient amounts of vegetables, fruit, and legumes. Vegetable and fruit consumption declined with the increase in age category while eating sweets, soft drinks, and processed food increased. Incorporating school meals’ data into this analysis, we observed a modification in dietary compliance, characterized by an increase in meat and cheese consumption, alongside improvements in the intake of vegetables, fruits, fish, eggs, and legumes. This study suggests that supporting an integrated approach that combines social and educational initiatives is crucial. Future research should prioritize fostering sustainable eating habits within communities to facilitate dietary habits’ transformation and encourage healthier lifestyles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Excess Weight, Dietary Habits and Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents)
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17 pages, 2712 KiB  
Article
Physical Activity and Its Potential Determinants in Obese Children and Adolescents under Specialist Outpatient Care—A Pilot Cross-Sectional Study
by Anna Kawalec, Renata Mozrzymas, Agata Domżol, Agnieszka Zachurzok, Maria Szczepańska, Anna Noczyńska and Danuta Zwolińska
Healthcare 2024, 12(2), 260; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12020260 - 19 Jan 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2771
Abstract
(1) Background: this study aimed to assess the physical activity of obese pediatric patients under specialized outpatient care and its potential determinants. (2) Methods: A total of 83 subjects aged 7–18 years with simple obesity and their parents were enrolled. Data were collected [...] Read more.
(1) Background: this study aimed to assess the physical activity of obese pediatric patients under specialized outpatient care and its potential determinants. (2) Methods: A total of 83 subjects aged 7–18 years with simple obesity and their parents were enrolled. Data were collected with the use of physical activity questionnaires (PAQs) for children and adolescents and additional questions concerning selected socio-demographic characteristics. (3) Results: The mean final PAQ score was 2.09 ± 0.69. The most frequently chosen types of physical activity included walking, gymnastics, and jogging or running. We found a weak correlation inversely proportional between the child’s age and mean final PAQ score (r = −0.25; p = 0.02). Younger children were more active during lunchtime at school and after school compared to adolescents (p = 0.03 and p = 0.04). The final PAQ score differed according to the place of residence; the lowest score was obtained by subjects living in cities >100,000 inhabitants (p = 0.025). We found a positive correlation between PAQ-Ch score and the father’s physical activity, and between PAQ-A score and the mother’s education. (4) Conclusions: The physical activity of obese pediatric patients is low, particularly in adolescents. It seems that age and place of residence have an impact on the physical activity of obese children and adolescents. The PAQs used in this study are useful in physical activity assessment and identification of time segments during the day in which activity might be improved. However, this requires confirmation in a larger group of pediatric patients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Excess Weight, Dietary Habits and Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents)
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15 pages, 1186 KiB  
Article
Excess Weight in Relation to Lifestyle Habits in Spanish First-Year University Students: Differences between Pre- and Post-COVID-19—A Serial Cross-Sectional Study Based on uniHcos Project
by Natalia Hernández-Segura, Lorena Botella-Juan, Carmen Amezcua-Prieto, María Morales-Suárez-Varela, Ramona Mateos-Campos, Tania Fernández-Villa, Rocío Ortiz-Moncada, Ana Almaraz, Alicia Narciso-Rufo, Carlos Ayán-Pérez, Antonio José Molina and UniHcos Project Working Group
Healthcare 2023, 11(11), 1547; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11111547 - 25 May 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2286
Abstract
The objective of this research was to study the relationship between the body weight and diet, physical activity, and other habits among freshmen students by sex, and to determine whether these habits have changed during the post-era of the COVID-19 pandemic. A serial [...] Read more.
The objective of this research was to study the relationship between the body weight and diet, physical activity, and other habits among freshmen students by sex, and to determine whether these habits have changed during the post-era of the COVID-19 pandemic. A serial cross-sectional study with data from 11 Spanish universities was carried out. In total, 10,096 first-year university students (73.2% female, mean age = 19.0 ± 1.5 years) completed an online self-administered questionnaire between 2012 and 2022. For some analyses, questionnaires were categorized by the year in which the survey was filled out as Before COVID-19, Lockdown, and New Normal. In total, 72.9% of participants were within the normal weight range, and 17.7% of men and 11.8% of women were overweight (p < 0.001). The students who did not meet the WHO criteria of physical activity, spent more than 7 h per day sitting, and skipped breakfast had a higher prevalence of obesity (p < 0.05). According to the period of study, the prevalence of overweight/obesity Before COVID-19 was 16.1% (95% CI: 15.4–16.9%), while in Lockdown the prevalence was significantly higher (20.2, 95% CI: 17.1–23.8) and in New Normal it was 18.9% (CI: 15.7–22.5). Moreover, the study suggests that during the Lockdown period, there was a reduction in the practice of physical activity and an increase in the prevalence of a healthy diet. For all these, it is necessary to propose public health interventions that improve the lifestyles of university students. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Excess Weight, Dietary Habits and Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents)
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9 pages, 518 KiB  
Article
Can a Multidisciplinary Weight Loss Treatment Improve Motor Performance in Children with Obesity? Results from an Observational Study
by Francesca Gallè, Giuliana Valerio, Espedita Muscariello, Ornella Daniele, Valentina Di Mauro, Simone Forte, Teresa Mastantuono, Roberta Ricchiuti, Giorgio Liguori and Pierluigi Pecoraro
Healthcare 2023, 11(6), 899; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11060899 - 21 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1937
Abstract
In the last two decades, the relationship between weight status and children’s motor skill competence has been receiving increasing attention, given its possible role in the prevention and treatment of obesity. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a multidisciplinary obesity treatment [...] Read more.
In the last two decades, the relationship between weight status and children’s motor skill competence has been receiving increasing attention, given its possible role in the prevention and treatment of obesity. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a multidisciplinary obesity treatment on motor performance in a sample of Italian children and adolescents. Visual and auditory reaction time (VRT and ART), vertical jump elevation (VJE) and power (VJP), body mass index (BMI) and BMI-standard deviation score (BMI-SDS), waist circumference (WC), body composition, dietary habits and physical activity (PA) levels were assessed at baseline and at 6- and 12-month follow-up. Significant improvements were observed in BMI-SDS and FFM, diet and PA levels. Adolescents showed significant improvements in VRT and ART. Jump elevation and power increased in both children and adolescent subgroups. Girls exhibited greater changes than boys in both VRT and ART and VJP but lower changes in VJE. VRT improvement was related to age (OR = 0.285, 95%CI 0.098–0.830, p = 0.021) and FFM (OR = 0.255, 95%CI 0.070–0.933, p = 0.039). An increase in VJE was associated with BMI-SDS (OR = 0.158, 95%CI 0.036–0.695, p = 0.015) and with PA level (OR = 19.102, 95%CI 4.442–82.142, p < 0.001); the increase in VJP was related with the increase in PA (OR = 5.564, 95%CI 1.812–17.081, p = 0.003). These findings suggest the possible effects of a multidisciplinary obesity treatment on children’s motor competence. Since the improvement in motor skills can increase children’s motivation and adherence to weight loss treatment in the long term, these aspects should be further investigated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Excess Weight, Dietary Habits and Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents)
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8 pages, 259 KiB  
Article
Florentine Normative Values for Physical Fitness in Adolescents Aged 14–15 Years
by Gabriele Mascherini, Niccolò Buglione, Virginia Ciani, Franco Tirinnanzi, Vittorio Bini and Matteo Levi Micheli
Healthcare 2022, 10(12), 2486; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10122486 - 8 Dec 2022
Viewed by 1770
Abstract
Physical fitness during youth is linked to the health of today’s young people and future adults. Therefore, fitness evaluation can direct any physical exercise interventions and verify improvements. The study aims to provide normative values of the physical fitness of the Florentine adolescent [...] Read more.
Physical fitness during youth is linked to the health of today’s young people and future adults. Therefore, fitness evaluation can direct any physical exercise interventions and verify improvements. The study aims to provide normative values of the physical fitness of the Florentine adolescent population. This cross-sectional study enrolled 1915 subjects aged 14 and 15 from the first and second high school classes. Tests were performed to assess cardiovascular endurance, upper and lower limb strength, running speed and agility, and lower limb muscle flexibility. Sex and age-related percentiles were elaborated. The study included 1028 subjects in the first class (aged 14.3 ± 0.8 years; 54.5% females) and 887 in the second class (aged 15.3 ± 0.7 years; 53.4% females). Males showed higher values than females except for flexibility. Furthermore, both genders show increased results in transitioning from the first to the second class, except for muscle flexibility and running speed. The percentiles of the present study provide normative values of the physical fitness of the 14–15-year-old Florentine adolescent population. These results, characterized by a sociocultural specificity linked to the territory from which they were collected, can contribute to the assessment and improvement of the physical status of young people, promoting current and future health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Excess Weight, Dietary Habits and Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents)

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23 pages, 865 KiB  
Systematic Review
Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in Children and Adolescents and Association with Multiple Outcomes: An Umbrella Review
by Alice Masini, Laura Dallolio, Francesco Sanmarchi, Francesco Lovecchio, Mario Falato, Yari Longobucco, Marcello Lanari and Rossella Sacchetti
Healthcare 2024, 12(4), 449; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12040449 - 9 Feb 2024
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4852
Abstract
The Mediterranean Diet (MD) has been linked to numerous health benefits. This umbrella review aims to synthesize evidence from systematic reviews on the MD’s impact on children and adolescents aged 6 to 19 years. Following Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines, we included 11 systematic [...] Read more.
The Mediterranean Diet (MD) has been linked to numerous health benefits. This umbrella review aims to synthesize evidence from systematic reviews on the MD’s impact on children and adolescents aged 6 to 19 years. Following Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines, we included 11 systematic reviews focusing on the MD’s effects on health outcomes, such as asthma, anthropometric measures, physical fitness, and inflammatory markers. The results indicate a protective role of the MD against childhood asthma due to its antioxidant-rich components. However, evidence for its impact on allergic conditions like rhinitis and eczema is inconclusive. Findings regarding anthropometric outcomes, particularly BMI, are limited and inconsistent. A positive correlation was observed between MD adherence and increased physical activity, improved physical fitness, quality of life, and reduced sedentary behavior. Additionally, the MD showed an inverse relationship with pro-inflammatory biomarkers, suggesting anti-inflammatory benefits. The inconsistency in BMI findings and the potential anti-inflammatory properties of the MD warrant further longitudinal research. Future studies should explore the MD’s impact on cognitive functions, academic performance, and mental health in this age group, highlighting the significance of establishing healthy eating habits early in life. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Excess Weight, Dietary Habits and Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents)
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22 pages, 2466 KiB  
Systematic Review
Exploring Gut Microbiota and the Influence of Physical Activity Interventions on Overweight and Obese Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review
by Micaela C. Morgado, Mónica Sousa, André B. Coelho, Júlio A. Costa and André Seabra
Healthcare 2023, 11(17), 2459; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11172459 - 3 Sep 2023
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3543
Abstract
The recognition that the gut microbiota of obese children differs from lean children has grown, and some studies suggest that physical activity positively influences the gut microbiota. This systematic review explores the changes in the gut microbiota composition of obese and non-obese children [...] Read more.
The recognition that the gut microbiota of obese children differs from lean children has grown, and some studies suggest that physical activity positively influences the gut microbiota. This systematic review explores the changes in the gut microbiota composition of obese and non-obese children and adolescents and provides an understanding of the effects of physical activity interventions in modulating their microbiota. The PRISMA protocol was used across PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Overall, twenty-four research papers were included in accordance with the chosen inclusion and exclusion criteria, eighteen studies compared the gut microbiota of obese and normal-weight children and adolescents, and six studies explored the effect of physical activity interventions on the gut microbiota. The analysis indicated that obese gut microbiota is reduced in Bacteroidetes, Bifidobacterium and alpha diversity but enriched in Proteobacteria and Lactobacillus. Interventions with physical activity seem to improve the alpha diversity and beneficial bacteria linked to body weight loss in children and adolescents. The gut microbiota of obese children exhibited a remarkably individual variation. More interventions are needed to clearly and accurately explore the relationships between child obesity, gut microbiota, and physical activity and to develop approaches to decrease the incidence of paediatric obesity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Excess Weight, Dietary Habits and Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents)
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15 pages, 663 KiB  
Systematic Review
Effects of School Nurse-Led Interventions in Collaboration with Kinesiologists in Promoting Physical Activity and Reducing Sedentary Behaviors in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review
by Yari Longobucco, Matteo Ricci, Susan Scrimaglia, Claudia Camedda, Laura Dallolio and Alice Masini
Healthcare 2023, 11(11), 1567; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11111567 - 26 May 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3427
Abstract
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that schools adopt a whole-school strategy for healthy behaviors involving different health professionals. The present systematic review aimed to evaluate the efficacy of nurse-led interventions in collaboration with kinesiologists on physical activity and lifestyle behaviors’ outcomes in [...] Read more.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that schools adopt a whole-school strategy for healthy behaviors involving different health professionals. The present systematic review aimed to evaluate the efficacy of nurse-led interventions in collaboration with kinesiologists on physical activity and lifestyle behaviors’ outcomes in school settings. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (ID: CRD42022343410). The primary research study was developed through the PICOS question: children and adolescence 6–18 years (P); school nurse-led interventions in promoting physical activity (PA) and reducing sedentary behaviors (I); usual lessons, no intervention focusing on PA (C); PA levels, sedentary behaviors, and healthy lifestyle behaviors (O); experimental or observational study with original primary data and full-text studies written in English (S). Seven studies were included. Interventions were heterogeneous: besides physical activities carried out in all studies, the interventions were based on different health models and strategies (counselling, face-to-face motivation, education). Five out of seven articles investigated PA levels or their related behaviors using questionnaires, and two used ActiGraph accelerometers. Lifestyle behaviors were assessed with heterogeneous methods. Five out of seven articles showed an improvement in at least one outcome after the interventions, whereas two papers showed a statistically non-significant improvement. In conclusion, school interventions involving nurses, also in association with other professionals such as kinesiologists, can be effective in reducing sedentary behaviors and improving healthy lifestyles in children and adolescents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Excess Weight, Dietary Habits and Physical Activity in Children and Adolescents)
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