Overweight Prevention.pdf

15% of children and adolescents in Germany are overweight, with 6.3% being obese, resulting in significant direct and indirect costs. The development of overweight and adiposity is influenced by family history, social status, and sociocultural factors, as well as physical inactivity and unhealthy eating habits. Primary prevention measures, such as encouraging physical activity and healthy eating habits in kindergarten and schools, and involving parents, are crucial. Research questions focus on the effectiveness and efficiency of different measures and programs for primary prevention of adiposity in children and adolescents, with an emphasis on social aspects.

Methods involved a systematic literature review, yielding 1,649 abstracts, with 29 medical and two economic publications included in the assessment. Results showed that only randomized, controlled studies with at least 30 children and specifying anthropometric data were used to assess effectiveness. Ten primary studies with seven interventions and 19 reviews were identified, with most using multi-disciplinary approaches in schools. None of the interventions led to success in all subgroups, with three studies reporting no changes and four reporting an impact in children, mostly girls, who are already obese.

Economic analyses included a cost-effectiveness evaluation of the Planet Health Program, which showed success only in female students, with a cost of 4,305 USD per QALY and net savings for society of 7,313 USD. An Australian model calculation chose 13 interventions and modeled their cost-effectiveness, with the reduction of TV-ads geared towards children for food having the greatest impact on society.