Effect of Weight Control Intervention on Body Mass Index among Adolescents with Overweight: A Systematic Review and Meta Analysis

Due to the dramatic rise in overweight and obesity, adolescent weight management interventions are required. Therefore, this study aimed to study the components and the effect size of weight control programs for adolescents with overweight and obese.

Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we systematically searched electronic databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, ThaiJo, ThaiLis, and Embase) through December 2021 published in English and Thai, samples aged 15–22 years, and presenting the mean, SD a sample size of both experimental and control groups. However, we excluded articles other than full‑text articles. In addition, a risk of bias assessment was performed according to the Cochrane Collaboration’s quality assessment tool. Finally, this meta‑analysis included six studies that met the criteria. The meta‑analysis used a fixed‑effects model with a forest plot to compute effect sizes and Cochran’s Q and I2 statistics as measures of heterogeneity.

We found six primary studies which included 721 overweight adolescents. The analysis of the effectiveness of weight control programs for overweight adolescents revealed that 360 adolescents with overweight and obese (49.93%) who underwent the weight control programs changed body weight and body mass index values with the effect size of ‑0.80 (‑1.03, ‑0.56) and I2 was 56.00%.

The results indicate further studies should focus on constructing programs that consider adolescents’ changes in technology and lifestyles. Additionally, social and mobile tools should motivate and educate adolescents about body weight control to help them adapt to a healthy lifestyle and maintain weight control over time.