Effectiveness of Lifestyle Interventions for Prevention of Harmful Weight Gain among Adolescents from Ethnic Minorities: A Systematic Review

Nematullah Hayba, Samiha Elkheir, Jessica Hu and Margaret Allman-Farinelli
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Nematullah Hayba: Discipline of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Life and Environmental Science, Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
Samiha Elkheir: Discipline of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Life and Environmental Science, Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
Jessica Hu: Discipline of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Life and Environmental Science, Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
Margaret Allman-Farinelli: Discipline of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Life and Environmental Science, Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 17, 1-33

Abstract: The escalating obesity among adolescents is of major concern, especially among those from an ethnic minority background. The adolescent period offers a key opportunity for the implementation of positive lifestyle behaviours as children transition to adulthood. The objective of this review was to examine the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions for adolescents and their impact in ethnic and racial minorities for the prevention of overweight and obesity. Seven electronic databases were searched from 2005 until March 2019 for randomized controlled trials of lifestyle programs conducted in this population. The main outcome was change in Body Mass Index (BMI) z-score (kg/m 2 ) or change in BMI and secondary outcomes were changes in physical activity and diet. Thirty studies met the inclusion criteria. Seven studies reported and/or conducted subgroup analysis to determine if ethnic/racial group affected weight change. None demonstrated an overall decrease in BMI z-score. However, six of the seven demonstrated changes in secondary measures such as fruit and vegetable intake and screen time. Results did not differ by ethnic/racial group for primary and secondary outcomes. Overweight and obesity prevention among adolescents from ethnic minorities is an area that needs further research. There is a lack of interventions that include analyses of effectiveness in ethnic minorities.

Keywords: overweight; obesity; prevention intervention; lifestyle; adolescents; ethnic minorities; racial minorities (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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