ARTICLE CRITIQUE

“School-Based Obesity Interventions: A Literature Review”

Columbia Southern University
STUDY DESIGN
This research was conducted using a qualitative approach. The researcher used the
PubMed and OVID Medline databases to search for school-based interventions with
measurements of the size and proportions of the human body in children and adolescents
between the ages of 7-19 years over a 20 year period.
PROBLEM OR OBJECTIVE
Obesity is a rapidly growing epidemic that is sweeping through the nation at an alarming
rate. The over the past 20 years, obesity rates have tripled among children between 6-11 years of
age. Childhood obesity has been linked to many health risks and it is the leading cause of high
blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and coronary diseases. There has been an increase in hospital
costs related to childhood obesity. Over 34% of children and adolescents are at risk of becoming
overweight. The authors explored several interventions that were conducted within a school
setting to help management obesity in children and possibly reduce obesity in adults.
LITEATURE REVIEW
This study was completed by using different criteria located in the PubMed and OVID
Medline databases to establish several obesity interventions. There were 51 intervention studies
competed. The researchers proved that the combination of physical activity along with
educational/behavior
POPULATION SAMPLING FOR STUDY
The researchers used stratified sampling to come up with 51 intervention studies of
children and adolescent between 7-19 years of age. The interventions lasted between 4 weeks to
8 consecutive years. The 51 interventions studies consisted of: 15 studies that exclusively
utilized physical activity programs; 16 studies utilizing education models and behavior
stratifications; and 20 studies utilizing both interventions. The researchers used five key phrases
to maximize the search and meet the standards of the study. The key phrases were 1) obesity
intervention, 2) school-based intervention; 3) physical activity; 4) parent-child partnership and 5)
nutritional program.
MEASUREMENT
The researchers used the ratio measurement to conduct the analysis. The interventions
were broken into five areas: intervention type, outcome measures, duration, and significant of
the interventions. The 51 intervention type include 15 using modification of a physical
education activity program that was already in existence; 17 interventions used health/fitness
educational models, physical activity modifications or dietary regimens; 19 interventions used a
combination of the previous two interventions. Also qualitative and quantitative measures were
used, i.e. BMI, flexibility, aerobic activity.
DATA COLLECTION METHODS AND ANALYSIS
The researchers used data was collected via the PubMed/OVID Medline database using
specific variables. Those variables include an age bracket between 7-19 years of age;
pre/postmeasures of anthropometric variables and implementation of the intervention. The
length of the interventions ranged from 4 weeks to as long as 8 consecutive years.
LIMITED AND JUSTIFIABLE CONCLUSIONS
With all of the studies and research of interventions of obesity in children and
adolescence, I believe this study lacked any conclusive interventions that will prove any long
term effects on childhood obesity. I think the study should have focused on 2 or 3 schools with 7
years and implement both interventions of physical activity as well as educational modifications
and track the students’ progress through age 19. This information could be used as a foundation
to win the war on obesity in this country.
 REFERENCE

Shaya, Fadia, PhD, MpH; Flores, David; Gbarayor, Confidence, MpH; and Wang, Jingshu, PhD
(2008). School-Based Obesity Interventions: A Literature Review.

Retrieved October 12, 2009 from

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/119393957/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0