Effectiveness of a population‐scaled, school‐based physical activity intervention for the prevention of childhood obesity
Authors' conclusion
The population-scaled, school-based PA intervention was effective in preventing and treating obesity. The effects were the greatest in children initially presenting with obesity, such that the program was able to benefit children needing support the most.
Study context
- Population
- Children aged 6 to 14 years in Slovenia, over 200 schools, with normal weight, overweight or obesity at baseline>34,000 participants
- Exposure
- School-based physical activity (PA) intervention vs nonparticipants
- Outcome
- BMI
- Follow-up
- 1-5 years of exposure
Methodological detailsreal-world, population-scaled, school-based
- Real-world
- Population-scaled
- School-based
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
1-5 years
Intervention vs NonparticipantsDifference, kg/m2 (95% CI)
Girls with obesity, peak; lower with Intervention
1.4(1.0–1.9)
Boys with obesity, peak; lower with Intervention
0.9(0.6–1.3)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Reversal of obesity
- Lowest NNT, girls (after 5 years)
- 17
- Lowest NNT, boys (after 5 years)
- 12
- Program started to become effective at reversing obesity after 3 years
Original publication
Effectiveness of a population‐scaled, school‐based physical activity intervention for the prevention of childhood obesity. Obesity (Silver Spring). Published 22 February 2023. doi:10.
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