Poster Presentation ANZOS-Breakthrough Discoveries Joint Annual Scientific Meeting 2018

Body satisfaction in children and adolescents undergoing weight management treatment: systematic review and meta-analysis (#312)

Megan L Gow 1 2 , Natalie B Lister 1 2 , Susan J Paxton 3 , Katharine Aldwell 1 , Sarah Thomas 1 , Sarah P Garnett 1 2 , Louise A Baur 1 2 , Hiba Jebeile 1 2
  1. The Children's Hospital Westmead, Westmead, NSW, Australia
  2. University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  3. La Trobe University, Melbourne, NSW, Australia

Introduction: Children and adolescents with overweight or obesity have reduced body satisfaction. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the impact on body satisfaction of weight management interventions for children and adolescents with overweight or obesity.

Methods: Four databases were searched in May 2017 to retrieve and identify eligible peer-reviewed articles. Eligible studies included: (1) children and adolescents (<18-years) with overweight or obesity, (2) weight management intervention with a nutrition component, (3) case studies, pre-post studies and randomised controlled trials, (4) pre- and post-intervention assessment of at least one measure of body satisfaction. Meta-analysis was completed where possible.

Results: Of 2799 articles screened, 39 studies met the inclusion criteria. Nineteen reported on body satisfaction/dissatisfaction, six on body esteem, 15 on physical appearance, and five each on shape and weight concern. Meta-analysis indicated that weight management interventions led to an improvement in physical appearance (12 studies, small to medium effect size, SMD (SE) 0.390 (0.067), p<0.001) equivalent to an increase in 0.32 (0.066) points on a scale of 1-4. Weight concern did not change (five studies, -0.223 (0.161), p=0.166) and there was a reduction in shape concern (five studies, small effect size, -0.34 (0.156), p=0.029). Although statistically significant, changes may not be clinically significant. Fourteen of 19 studies measuring change in body dissatisfaction and four of six studies measuring change in body esteem reported significant improvements immediately following the weight management intervention. No study reported worsening of body satisfaction measures.

Conclusion: This review demonstrates that engagement in weight management interventions does not have a detrimental impact on body satisfaction. In fact, weight management may lead to mild improvements in measures of body satisfaction, including physical appearance and shape concern, in children and adolescents with overweight or obesity.