This review aims to assess the effectiveness of psychological interventions for treating childhood obesity. Firm conclusions about the effectiveness of psychological interventions to treat childhood obesity remain unclear. Based on current knowledge, the review suggests that a number of interventions may be effective including: multi-component family-based behavioural interventions, interventions aimed at reducing sedentary behaviour and/or increasing physical activity levels as a component of family-based behavioural treatments, in addition to population-based school-wide treatment for girls. Further investment is needed to improve current research and find new, more imaginative ways to research childhood obesity.
Epstein LH, Paluch RA, Gordy CC and Dorn J. ( 2000) Decreasing sedentary behaviors in treating pediatric obesity . Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine154: 220-226.
2.
Epstein LH, Paluch RA, Kilanowski CK and Raynor HA ( 2004) The effect of reinforcement or stimulus control to reduce sedentary behaviour in the treatment of pediatric obesity. Health Psychology23(4): 371-380.
3.
Gortmaker SL, Peterson K., Wiecha J., et al. (1999) Reducing obesity via a school-based interdisciplinary intervention among youth: Plant health. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine153: 409-418.
4.
Hughes AR, Stewart L., Chapple J., et al. (2008) Randomized controlled trials of best practice individualized behavioral program for treatment of childhood overweight: Scottish Childhood Overweight Trial (SCOTT). Paediatrics121(3): 359-546.
5.
Jiang JX, Xia XL, Greiner R., Lian GL and Rosenqvist U. ( 2005) A two year family based behaviour treatment for obese children. Archives of Disease in Childhood90: 1235-1238.
6.
Kalavainen MP, Korppi MO and Nuutinen OM ( 2007) Clinical efficacy of group-based treatment for childhood obesity compared with routinely given individual counseling. International Journal of Obesity31: 1500-1508.
7.
Munsch S., Roth B., Michael T., et al. (2008) Randomized controlled comparison of two cognitive behavioural therapies for obese children: Mother versus mother-child cognitive behavioral therapy. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics77: 235-246.
8.
Nemet D., Barzilay-Teeni N. and Eliakim A. ( 2008) A treatment of childhood obesity in obese families . Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism21(5): 461-467.
9.
Nemet D., Barkan S., Epstein Y., Friedland O., Kowen G. and Eliakim A. ( 2005) Short and long-term beneficial effects of a combined dietary-behavioral-physical activity intervention for the treatment of childhood obesity. Pediatrics115(4): 443-449.
10.
Cole TJ, Bellizzi CB, Flegal DM and Dietz WH ( 2000) Establishing a standard definition for child overweight and obesity worldwide: International survey. British Medical Journal320: 1-6.
Glenny A., O’Meara S., Melville A., Sheldon TA and Wilson C. ( 1997) The treatment and prevention of obesity: A systematic review of the literature. International Journal of Obesity21: 715-737.
13.
Golan M. and Crow S. ( 2004) Parents are key players in the prevention and treatment of weight-related problems. Nutrition Reviews62(1): 39-50.
14.
Golan M., Fainaru M. and Weizman A. ( 1998) Role of behaviour modification in the treatment of childhood obesity with the parents as the exclusive agents of change. International Journal of Obesity Related Metabolic Disorders22: 1217-1224.
15.
Golan M., Kufman V. and Shahar DR ( 2006) Childhood obesity treatment: Targeting parents exclusively v parents and children. British Journal of Nutrition95: 1008-1015.
16.
Guillaume M. ( 1999) Defining obesity in childhood: Current practice . American Journal of Clinical Nutrition70(1): 126s-130s.
17.
Health and Social Care Information Centre ( 2010) Statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity and Diet: England . London: National Health Service .
18.
HM Government (2007) PSA Delivery Agreement 12: Improve the Health and Well-Being of Children and Young People . London: HM Treasury.
19.
HM Government (2008) Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives: A Cross-Government Strategy for England. London: HM Government.
20.
Lissau I., Overpeck MD, Ruan WJ, Due P., Holstein BE and Hedger ML ( 2004) Body mass index and overweight in adolescents in 13 European countries, Israel, and the United States. Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine158: 27-33.
21.
Lobstein T. and Frelut ML ( 2003) Prevalence of overweight among children in Europe . Obesity Reviews4(4): 195-200.
22.
Lobstein T. and Jackson-Leach R. ( 2007) Foresight. Tackling Obesities: Future Choices - International Comparisons of Obesity Trends, Determinants and Responses - Evidence Review . London: Government Office for Science.
23.
McPherson K., Marsh T. and Brown M. ( 2007) Modelling Future Trends in Obesity and the Impact of Health. Foresight Tackling Obesities. London: Foresight.
24.
NICE Public Health Collaborating Centre (2003 ) The Management of Obesity and Overweight: An Analysis of Reviews of Diet, Physical Activity and Behavioral Approaches: Evidence Briefing . London: National Institute for Clinical Excellence .
25.
NICE Public Health Collaborating Centre (2006 ) Obesity Guidance on the Prevention, Identification, Assessment and Management of Overweight and Obesity in Adults and Children. London: National Institute for Clinical Excellence .
26.
Reilly J., Dorosty A. and Emmett P. ( 1999) Prevalence of overweight and obesity in British children: Cohort study. British Medical Journal319: 1039.
27.
Summerbell CD, Ashton V., Campbell KJ, Edmunds L., Kelly S. and Waters E. ( 2003) Interventions for treating obesity in children . Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews2003, CD001872.
28.
Summerbell CD, Waters E., Edmunds L., Kelly S., Brown T. and Campbell KJ ( 2005) Interventions for preventing obesity in children . Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews2005, CD001871.
