Psychosocial Outcomes Reported in Randomized Behavioral Intervention Trials for Children and Adolescents with Overweight and Obesity: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Background:

Many children and adolescents with overweight or obesity experience negative psychosocial health consequences. Systematic reviews show that behavioral interventions can help improve specific psychosocial outcomes. This scoping review aims to identify and map the different types of psychosocial outcomes measured and reported in randomized behavioral intervention trials for managing pediatric overweight and obesity.

Methods:

A total of 11 databases were searched until February 2024. We included randomized behavioral intervention trials for children and adolescents (≤18 years) with overweight or obesity that report at least one psychosocial outcome.

Results:

Overall, 197 articles reflecting 169 behavioral intervention trials were included. To assess the psychosocial outcomes captured, among 169 trials, 174 different measures were identified (e.g., self- and proxy-reported questionnaires). The psychosocial outcomes were organized into nine categories. The most frequently reported outcome categories were (1) emotional and behavioral functioning (n = 79 outcomes); (2) eating attitudes, behaviors, and body image (n = 72 outcomes); and (3) quality of life (n = 68 outcomes). Among all psychosocial outcomes captured, most outcomes were reported among older children and adolescents (78.4%) and for interventions with a duration of up to 26 weeks (75.1%).

Conclusions:

This scoping review identified a variety of psychosocial outcomes across different behavioral intervention trials and a variety of measures used to assess them. Evidence among younger samples and regarding the long-term effects of behavioral intervention trials on psychosocial health is limited. Identifying the core outcomes as well as a psychometric evaluation of the measures identified is needed.