Lead: Rajalakshmi Lakshman
The aim of these reviews was to inform the design and content of interventions to reduce obesity in young children. Over the past few years, the focus of obesity prevention has shifted to preschool children due to high prevalence of obesity at school entry and recognition that habits formed in early life could track into adulthood.
The energy balance related behaviours (EBRBs) associated with obesity/overweight have been studied extensively; however, the determinants associated with these behaviours in young children (0-6 years) and the qualitative literature had not previously been systematically reviewed. Our reviews focussed on the more upstream determinants of EBRBs and include observational, intervention and qualitative studies on the determinants of dietary and physical activity behaviours in pre-school children.
As a result of this work, active engagement is under way with public health policy makers to inform the design and content of suitable interventions pertaining to:
- intake of sugary drinks and of high calorie foods
- fruit and vegetable consumption,
- physical activity and sedentary behaviours in young children
Cambridgeshire County Council is also revising dietary recommendations in its pre-school nurseries.
Hesketh, K. R., Lakshman, R., and van Sluijs, E. M. F. (2017) Barriers and facilitators to young children’s physical activity and sedentary behaviour: a systematic review and synthesis of qualitative literature. Obesity Reviews, doi: 10.1111/obr.12562.
Hesketh, K. R., O’Malley, C., Paes, V. M., Moore, H., Summerbell, C., Ong, K. K., Lakshman, R., van Sluijs, E. M. F. (2016). Determinants of Change in Physical Activity in Children 0-6 years of Age: A Systematic Review of Quantitative Literature.. Sports Med. doi:10.1007/s40279-016-0656-0
Mazarello Paes, V., Hesketh, K., O’Malley, C., Moore, H., Summerbell, C., Griffin, S., . . . Lakshman, R. (2015). Determinants of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption in young children: a systematic review.. Obes Rev, 16(11), 903-913. doi:10.1111/obr.12310
Mazarello Paes, V., Ong, K. K., & Lakshman, R. (2015). Factors influencing obesogenic dietary intake in young children (0-6 years): systematic review of qualitative evidence.. BMJ Open, 5(9), e007396. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2014-007396
Lakshman, R., Mazarello Paes, V., Hesketh, K., O’Malley, C., Moore, H., Ong, K., . . . Summerbell, C. (2013). Protocol for systematic reviews of determinants/correlates of obesity-related dietary and physical activity behaviors in young children (preschool 0 to 6 years): evidence mapping and syntheses.. Syst Rev, 2, 28. doi:10.1186/2046-4053-2-28