Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Science Communicator Platform

Stay connected! Follow us on X network (Twitter):
Share By
Which School-Based Interventions Work Better to Combat Obesity in Children? a Network Meta-Analysis Publisher Pubmed



B Nikooyeh BAHAREH ; Z Yari ZAHRA ; Z Hariri ZAHRA ; G Baghdadi GHAZAL ; H Yazdani HOOTAN ; Me Motlagh Mohammad ESMAEL ; Tr Neyestani Tirang REZA
Authors

Source: Systematic Reviews Published:2025


Abstract

Background: Adolescent obesity is linked to a higher risk of becoming obese adults and developing chronic diseases. School-based interventions, focusing on nutritional education and physical activity (PA), are crucial for preventing childhood obesity. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of such interventions using network meta-analysis. Methods: We searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library for studies on school-based obesity interventions. Interventions included behavioral, nutritional, and physical activity components. Network meta-analysis (NMA) employed random-effects models, generating network plots. Surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) ranked intervention efficacy. Results: Sixty-one studies were included. School-based interventions significantly reduced body mass index z-score (z-BMI; mean difference [MD]: − 0.06; 95% CI: − 0.1, − 0.03) and BMI (MD: − 0.351; 95% CI: − 0.566, − 0.135). NMA indicated that combined interventions, PA + health education (HE) + school policy (SP), were more effective in reducing BMI than HE alone (MD: − 0.61; 95% CI: − 1.2, − 0.02). SUCRA rankings highlighted PA + HE + SP and PA alone as the most effective interventions in reducing BMI and z-BMI, respectively. Conclusion: School-based interventions are effective long-term strategies for managing childhood obesity. Combining PA, HE, and SP showed the highest efficacy in reducing BMI. Meanwhile, intervention duration and parental involvement did not show any significant additional effect, necessitating further prospective studies. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
Related Docs
View other Related Docs
1. Effect of School-Based Interventions to Control Childhood Obesity: A Review of Reviews, International Journal of Preventive Medicine (2015)
2. Long-Term Effect of an Excess-Weight-Reduction Intervention Among Iranian School Children: A 13-Month Follow-Up of a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial, Journal of Nutrition and Food Security (2023)
3. Obesity Intervention Programs Among Adolescents Using Social Cognitive Theory: A Systematic Literature Review, Health Education Research (2018)
Experts (# of related papers)
View all Related Experts
Sakineh Shab-Bidar (3)
Elham Ahmadnezhad (1)
Other Related Docs
4. Indicator for Success of Obesity Reduction Programs in Adolescents: Body Composition or Body Mass Index? Evaluating a School-Based Health Promotion Project After 12 Weeks of Intervention, International Journal of Preventive Medicine (2017)
5. Efficacy and Safety of Pharmacological Interventions in Managing Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Youth Living With Overweight and Obesity: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis, Obesity Reviews (2025)
6. Comparative Effectiveness of Single Foods and Food Groups on Body Weight: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis of 152 Randomized Controlled Trials, European Journal of Nutrition (2023)
7. Global, Regional, and National Prevalence of Child and Adolescent Overweight and Obesity, 1990–2021, With Forecasts to 2050: A Forecasting Study for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, The Lancet (2025)
8. Effect of Peer Education on Physical Activity and Nutrition Among Iranian Adolescents, Social Health and Behavior (2019)
9. Association of Childhood and Adolescence Obesity With Incidence and Mortality of Adulthood Cancers. a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, Frontiers in Endocrinology (2023)
10. Dietary Inflammatory Index in Relation to Obesity and Body Mass Index: A Meta-Analysis, Nutrition and Food Science (2018)
11. Assessment of the Efficacy of Physical Activity Level and Lifestyle Behavior Interventions Applying Social Cognitive Theory for Overweight and Obese Girl Adolescents, Journal of Research in Health Sciences (2018)
12. Composite Variable Bias: Causal Analysis of Weight Outcomes: Epidemiology and Population Health, International Journal of Obesity (2025)
13. Neighbourhood Socioeconomic Status and Overweight/Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Epidemiological Studies, BMJ Open (2019)
14. The Effects of Prebiotic, Probiotic or Synbiotic Supplementation on Overweight/Obesity Indicators: An Umbrella Review of the Trials’ Meta-Analyses, Frontiers in Endocrinology (2024)
15. The Effects of Bupropion Alone and Combined With Naltrexone on Weight Loss: A Systematic Review and Meta-Regression Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials, Diabetology and Metabolic Syndrome (2024)
16. Effect of a Four Weeks Aerobic Training Intervention on Body Fat Percentage and Physical Fitness Indices Among 5 to 6-Year-Old Obese, Overweight and Normal Weight Children: A Quasi-Experimental Study, International Journal of Kinesiology and Sports Science (2019)
17. A Comparison Between Body Mass Index and Waist Circumference for Identifying Continuous Metabolic Syndrome Risk Score Components in Iranian School-Aged Children Using a Structural Equation Modeling Approach: The Caspian-V Study, Eating and Weight Disorders (2021)
18. Anthropometric and Adiposity Indicators and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies, The BMJ (2022)
19. Global School-Based Student Health Survey: Country Profiles and Survey Results in the Eastern Mediterranean Region Countries, BMC Public Health (2022)
20. Prevalence of Obesity and Overweight in Iranian Children Aged Less Than 5 Years: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, Korean Journal of Pediatrics (2019)