A Comprehensive Review of School-Based Lifestyle Interventions to Reduce Childhood Obesity in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Childhood obesity prevalence has increased worldwide and substantially in the 22 countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO). Weight-related interventions are urgently required in these countries to tackle childhood obesity and its related consequences. There has been no review to date of obese children in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. This review discusses the different school-based lifestyle interventions conducted among obese children in the EMRO and assesses the applicability of future programs in Saudi Arabia. A thorough search of the literature was conducted on PubMed. A total of 170 studies were found, and eight of them were included in this review. The included studies were all randomized controlled trials or quasi-experimental. This review article showed that school-based lifestyle interventions may reduce childhood obesity by integrating interactive learning about healthy diet and physical activity within a whole school approach, involving children and their parents, modifying the school environment, and facilitating a workshop on healthy food preparation. To motivate children to change their behavior, it is crucial to meet with parents in person and utilize technology and rewards. School-based lifestyle programs can lower childhood obesity by involving all relevant parties, such as families and schools, and using reliable instruments to track results to establish a healthy community. In order to confirm these findings, more research is required for a longer period of time, more than six months.