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Open Access 01-12-2024 | Obesity | Systematic review update

A systematic review of school-based weight-related interventions in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries

Authors: Mohammed Banany, Melissa Kang, Klaus Gebel, David Sibbritt

Published in: Systematic Reviews | Issue 1/2024

Abstract

Background

The prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity has increased at alarming levels in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar). Weight-related interventions are urgently required in these countries to tackle childhood overweight and obesity and their-related consequences. To date, no systematic review has synthesised school-based weight-related interventions in the six GCC countries. This study aims to systematically review school-based, weight-related interventions conducted in the GCC countries, investigating the intervention characteristics, components, and outcomes.

Methods

Medline, Scopus, and ProQuest databases were searched for peer-reviewed literature published in English without date restriction and Google Scholar for grey literature using combined Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terms and keywords under five relevant concepts including population, setting, interventions, outcomes, and geographical location. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), records were identified, screened for eligibility, and included in this review. Using the Effective Public Health Practice Project tool, the methodological quality of the included studies was assessed independently by two authors.

Results

Out of 1303 initially identified records, eight peer-reviewed articles and three doctoral theses were included in this review. The age of the students in the included studies ranged between 5 to 19 years, and the sample sizes between 28 and 3,967 students. The studies included between one and thirty public and private schools. Of the included studies, six were randomised controlled trials, four pre-post studies and one used a post-study design. Only four of the eleven studies were theory based. The included studies reported various improvements in the students’ weight or weight-related lifestyle behaviours, such as healthier dietary choices, increased physical activity, and decreased sedentary behaviour.

Conclusions

This review suggests the potential effectiveness of school-based interventions in the GCC countries. However, a thorough evaluation of these studies revealed significant methodological limitations that must be acknowledged in interpreting these results. Future studies in this field should be theory-based and use more rigorous evaluation methods.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO registration number: CRD42020156535.

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Title: A systematic review of school-based weight-related interventions in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries
Authors: Mohammed Banany
Melissa Kang
Klaus Gebel
David Sibbritt
Publication date: 01-12-2024
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keywords: Obesity
Obesity
Overweight
Published in: Systematic Reviews / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 2046-4053
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-024-02475-7

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Springer Medicine

A systematic review of school-based weight-related interventions in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Systematic review registration

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Systematic review registration

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