Weight Loss and Improvement of Metabolic Alterations in Overweight and Obese Children Through the I2AO2 Family Program: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Use of Biomarkers in Nutrition Intervention Studies of Children: A Scoping Review

Obesity in youth is an increasingly prevalent public health concern worldwide. Lifestyle interventions aim to help participants establish healthy habits and reduce obesity-related disease risk by targeting physical activity and dietary habits. Most studies assess weight loss, but biomarkers may enable more rapid and comprehensive assessment of intervention success. This scoping review aims to synthesize the published literature on which biomarkers are assessed during interventions for pediatric obesity to inform future use. This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A literature search of five databases conducted in February 2022 returned 1579 unique and relevant articles published between 2006 and 2021. After screening titles, abstracts, and full text, four reviewers determined that 43 studies met eligibility requirements. Quality screening was conducted, and 97.7% of papers were of fair or good quality. Of the 43 studies, 47% reported measures of adipose-related signaling molecules inclusive of adipokines, 74% included insulin-related biomarkers, 63% reported lipid-related biomarkers, 40% reported proinflammatory cytokine biomarkers, 12% reported measures of skin and/or plasma carotenoids, 40% measured blood pressure, and 21% included liver enzymes. Sixty-seven percent of studies measured biomarkers in whole blood, 40% measured biomarkers in plasma, 56% measured biomarkers in serum, and 2% measured biomarkers in urine. This work summarizes the current use of biomarkers in lifestyle intervention studies enrolling children. These biomarkers could be clinically relevant for pediatric weight management interventions.

Patient navigator programmes for children and adolescents with chronic diseases

BACKGROUND

Despite a substantial global improvement in infant and child mortality from communicable diseases since the early 1990s there is now a growing burden of chronic disease in children and adolescents worldwide, mimicking the trend seen in the adult population. Chronic diseases in children and adolescents can affect all aspects of their well-being and function with these burdens and their health-related consequences often carried into adulthood. Up to one third of disability-adjusted life years for children and adolescents globally are a result of chronic disease. This has profound implications for the broader family unit, communities, and health systems in which these children and young people reside. Models of chronic care delivery for children and adolescents with chronic disease have traditionally been adapted from adult models. There is a growing recognition that children and adolescents with chronic diseases have a unique set of healthcare needs. Their needs extend beyond disease education and management appropriate to the developmental stage of the child, to encompass psychological well-being for the entire family and a holistic care approach focusing on the social determinants of health. It is for this reason that patient navigators have been proposed as a potential intervention to help fulfil this critical healthcare gap. Patient navigators are trained medical or non-medical personnel (e.g. lay health workers, community health workers, nurses, or people with lived experience) who provide guidance for the patients (and their primary caregivers) as they move through complex (and often bewildering) medical and social systems. The navigator may deliver education, help to co-ordinate patient care, be an advocate for the patient (and their primary caregivers), or combinations of these. Patient navigators can assist people with a chronic illness (especially those who are vulnerable or from a marginalised population, or both) to better understand their diagnoses, treatment options, and available resources. As there is considerable variation in the purpose, design, and target population of patient navigator programmes, there is a need to systematically review and summarise the existing literature on the effectiveness of navigator programmes in children and young adults with chronic disease.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effectiveness of patient navigator programmes in children and adolescents with chronic diseases.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Library and Epistemonikos up to 20 January 2023 for related systematic reviews using search terms relevant to this review. We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL EBSCO, conference proceedings, the International Clinical Trials Register (ICTRP) Search Portal, and ClinicalTrials.gov for primary studies.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials reporting the effect of patient navigator interventions on children and adolescents (aged 18 years or younger) with any chronic disease in hospital or community settings. Two review authors independently assessed the retrieved titles and abstracts, and where necessary, the full text to identify studies that satisfied the inclusion criteria.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors extracted data using a standard data extraction form. We used a random-effects model to perform a quantitative synthesis of the data. We used the I² statistic to measure heterogeneity amongst the studies in each analysis. We indicated summary estimates as mean differences (MD), where studies used the same scale, or standardised mean differences (SMD), where studies used different scales, with 95% confidence intervals (CI). We used subgroup and univariate meta-regression to assess reasons for between-study differences. We used the Cochrane RoB 1 tool to assess the methodological quality of the included studies. We used GRADE to assess the certainty of the evidence.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 17 studies (2895 randomised participants). All studies compared patient navigators with standard care. Most studies were at unclear or high risk of bias. Meta-analysis was undertaken only for those studies that had the same duration of patient navigator intervention and follow-up/reporting of outcome measures. The evidence is very uncertain about the effects of patient navigator programmes compared with standard care on self-reported quality of life of children with chronic illness (SMD 0.63, 95% CI -0.20 to 1.47; I2 = 96%; 4 studies, 671 participants; very low-certainty evidence); parent proxy-reported quality of life (SMD 0.09, 95% CI -2.21 to 2.40; I2 = 99%; 2 studies, 309 participants; very low-certainty evidence); or parents' or caregivers' quality of life (SMD -1.98, 95% CI -4.13 to 0.17; I2 = 99%; 3 studies, 757 participants; very low-certainty evidence). It is uncertain whether duration of patient navigator intervention accounts for any of the variances in the changes in quality of life. The evidence is very uncertain about the effects of patient navigator programmes compared with standard care on the number of hospital admissions (MD -0.05, 95% CI -0.34 to 0.23; I2 = 99%; 2 studies, 381 participants; very low-certainty evidence) and the number of presentations to the emergency department (MD 0.06, 95% CI -0.23 to 0.34; I2 = 98%; 2 studies, 381 participants; very low-certainty evidence). Furthermore, it is unclear whether patient navigator programmes reduce the number of missed school days as data were sparse (2 studies, 301 participants). Four studies (629 participants) reported data on resource use. However, given the variation in units of analysis used, meta-analysis was not possible (very low-certainty evidence). All studies reported cost savings or quality-adjusted life year improvement (or both) in the patient navigation arm. No studies reported on adverse events (specifically, abuse of any type against the navigator, the patient, or their family members).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

There is insufficient evidence at present to support the use of patient navigator programmes for children and adolescents with chronic diseases. The current evidence is based on limited data with very low-certainty evidence. Further studies are likely to significantly change these results.

Mediterranean Diet and Cardiometabolic Biomarkers in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Importance

No prior systematic review and meta-analysis has specifically verified the association of Mediterranean diet (MedDiet)-based interventions with biomarkers of cardiometabolic health in children and adolescents.

Objective

To review and analyze the randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that assessed the effects of MedDiet-based interventions on biomarkers of cardiometabolic health among children and adolescents.

Data Sources

Four electronic databases were searched (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus) from database inception to April 25, 2024.

Study Selection

Only RCTs investigating the effect of interventions promoting the MedDiet on cardiometabolic biomarkers (ie, systolic blood pressure [SBP], diastolic blood pressure [DBP], triglycerides [TGs], total cholesterol [TC], high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C], glucose, insulin, and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance [HOMA-IR]) among children and adolescents (aged ≤18 years) were included.

Data Extraction and Synthesis

A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. Data were extracted from the studies by 2 independent reviewers. Results across studies were summarized using random-effects meta-analysis.

Main Outcome and Measures

The effect size of each trial was computed by unstandardized mean differences (MDs) of changes in biomarker levels (ie, SBP, DBP, TGs, TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR) between the intervention and the control groups. The quality of the evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations approach.

Results

Nine RCTs were included (mean study duration, 17 weeks; range, 8-40 weeks). These studies involved 577 participants (mean age, 11 years [range, 3-18 years]; 344 girls [59.6%]). Compared with the control group, the MedDiet-based interventions showed a significant association with reductions in SBP (mean difference, -4.75 mm Hg; 95% CI, -8.97 to -0.52 mm Hg), TGs (mean difference, -16.42 mg/dL; 95% CI, -27.57 to -5.27 mg/dL), TC (mean difference, -9.06 mg/dL; 95% CI, -15.65 to -2.48 mg/dL), and LDL-C (mean difference, -10.48 mg/dL; 95% CI, -17.77 to -3.19 mg/dL) and increases in HDL-C (mean difference, 2.24 mg/dL; 95% CI, 0.34-4.14 mg/dL). No significant associations were observed with the other biomarkers studied (ie, DBP, glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR).

Conclusions and Relevance

These findings suggest that MedDiet-based interventions may be useful tools to optimize cardiometabolic health among children and adolescents.

Evidence Base Update on Behavioral Treatments for Overweight and Obesity in Children and Adolescents

OBJECTIVE

This review provides an update to a previous Evidence Base Update addressing behavioral treatments for overweight and obesity in children and adolescents.

METHOD

Articles were identified through a systematic search of the biomedical literature in PubMed/MEDLINE (1946-), Elsevier EMBASE (1947-), SCOPUS (1823-), Clarivate Web of Science Core Collection (WOS, 1900-), PsycINFO (1800-), The Cochrane Library and Clinicaltrials.gov published between June 2014 and August 2022.

RESULTS

Family-based treatment (FBT) remains a well-established treatment for overweight and obesity in children and is now well-established in adolescents and toddlers. Parent-only behavioral treatment remains well-established in children and is now well-established among adolescents and children. Possibly effective treatments continue to include FBT-parent only for adolescents, and behavioral weight loss (BWL) with a family component for adolescents, children, and toddlers. Several variations of FBT and BWL can now be considered possibly effective including FBT+motivational interviewing, FBT+social facilitation maintenance, group-based FBT, low-dose FBT, BWL+stress management, and camp-based BWL. Cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) for adolescents also met criteria for possibly effective treatments. Current research has also established that behavioral treatments can be effectively delivered in alternative settings (e.g. primary care) and through alternative mediums (e.g. telehealth).

CONCLUSIONS

Research continues to support the use of multicomponent lifestyle interventions in accordance with recent recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Psychological Association, and the United State Preventative Services Task Force. However, more work is needed to ensure appropriate access for children with comorbid medical and psychiatric disorders and children from socially, politically, and economically marginalized groups.

Mediterranean Diet-Based Interventions to Improve Anthropometric and Obesity Indicators in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

To our knowledge, no systematic review with meta-analysis has separately synthesized the effects of Mediterranean diet-based interventions in children and adolescents in relation to the effects on anthropometric measures. A better understanding of the effects of Mediterranean diet-based interventions on anthropometric variables could facilitate their implementation in efforts to prevent obesity in the young population. The aim of the present meta-analysis was to evaluate the effects of Mediterranean diet-based interventions on anthropometric and obesity indicators among children and adolescents. Four databases were systematically searched (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews), including all studies up until 15 March, 2023. Eligible articles were randomized controlled trials measuring the effect of an intervention based on the promotion of the Mediterranean diet and obesity-associated parameters. The effect size of each study was estimated by Cohen's d for continuous variables or risk difference for categorical variables. Compared to the control group, the Mediterranean diet-based interventions showed small and significant reductions in body mass index (d = -0.14; 95% CI: -0.26, -0.01; I2 = 77.52%). Participants in the Mediterranean diet-based interventions had a significant reduction in the percentage of obesity (risk difference = 0.12; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.23; I2 = 84.56%) in comparison with the control group. Interventions had greater effects when aiming at participants with excess weight (that is, overweight or obesity), both for body mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, percentage of obesity, and percentage of abdominal obesity. Mediterranean diet-based interventions have a significant effect on reducing the body mass index as well as reducing obesity in children and adolescents (aged 3-18 y). This trial was registered at PROSPERO as CRD42023386789.

A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial of the Archena Infancia Saludable Project on 24-h Movement Behaviors and Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet among Schoolchildren: A Pilot Study Protocol

Objective: The aim of this paper is to describe the protocol of pilot cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) that will evaluate the effects of a lifestyle-based intervention. The Archena Infancia Saludable project will have several objectives. The primary objective of this project is to determine the 6-month effects of a lifestyle-based intervention on adherence to 24-h movement behaviors and Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) in schoolchildren. The secondary objective of this project is to test the intervention effects of this lifestyle-based intervention on a relevant set of health-related outcomes (i.e., anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, perceived physical fitness, sleep habits, and academic performance). The tertiary objective is to investigate this intervention's "halo" effect on parents'/guardians' 24-h movement behaviors and adherence to the MedDiet. Methods: The Archena Infancia Saludable trial will be a cluster RCT submitted to the Clinical Trials Registry. The protocol will be developed according to SPIRIT guidelines for RCTs and CONSORT statement extension for cluster RCTs. A total of 153 eligible parents/guardians with schoolchildren aged 6-13 years will be randomized into an intervention group or a control group. This project focuses on two fundamental pillars: 24-h movement behaviors and MedDiet. It will mainly focus on the relationship between parents/guardians and their children. Behavior change strategies for dietary and 24-h movement behaviors in schoolchildren will be based on healthy lifestyle education for parents/guardians through infographics, video recipes, brief video clips, and videos. Conclusions: Most of the current knowledge on 24-h movement behaviors and adherence to the MedDiet is based on cross-sectional or longitudinal cohort studies, warranting a need to design and conduct RCTs to obtain more robust evidence on the effect of a healthy lifestyle program to increase 24-h movement behaviors and to improve adherence to the MedDiet in schoolchildren.

Mediterranean Diet in Developmental Age: A Narrative Review of Current Evidences and Research Gaps

Numerous studies in recent decades have shown that Mediterranean diet (MD) can reduce the risk of developing obesity in pediatric patients. The current narrative review summarizes recent evidence regarding the impact of MD across the different stages of child development, starting from fetal development, analyzing breastfeeding and weaning, through childhood up to adolescence, highlighting the gaps in knowledge for each age group. A literature search covering evidence published between 1 January 2000 and 1 March 2022 and concerning children only was conducted using multiple keywords and standardized terminology in PubMed database. A lack of scientific evidence about MD adherence concerns the age group undergoing weaning, thus between 6 months and one year of life. In the other age groups, adherence to MD and its beneficial effects in terms of obesity prevention has been extensively investigated, however, there are still few studies that correlate this dietary style with the incidence of non-communicable diseases. Furthermore, research on multi-intervention strategy should be implemented, especially regarding the role of education of children and families in taking up this healthy dietary style.