Correlates of physical activity enjoyment in children and adolescents for a new perspective on the treatment of overweight: A systematic literature review

The purpose of this systematic literature review was to systematically compile the state of knowledge on correlates of physical activity enjoyment in children and adolescents to influence the perspective of future physical activity promotion approaches especially for children and adolescents affected by overweight or obesity. The electronic database search was executed in the five databases PubMed, PsychINFO, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, and BISp-SURF, from inception to December 6, 2021. A semi-quantitative method was used for summarizing the resulted correlates. For final analysis, 85 studies comprising 48,144 children and adolescents were included. Fifty-seven variables could be coded for their relationship with physical activity enjoyment. Of these, 12 psychological variables, for example, the basic psychological needs, task orientation, or self-efficacy; six interpersonal variables, for example, peer/group acceptance, parental support, and autonomy support; and one behavioral variable, the higher self-reported physical activity, are consistent positively associated to physical activity enjoyment. A scientifically based overview could be extracted for the promotion of physical activity enjoyment in children and adolescents. There is a gap in literature focusing the perception of physical activity enjoyment in the subgroup of children and adolescents affected by overweight or obesity. Therefore, recommendations were made to enable the development of further innovative research approaches in this population.

Supporting families to achieve a healthy weight development for their child with overweight/obesity using the STARKIDS intervention: study protocol for a cluster-randomized controlled trial

Background

Childhood and adolescent overweight and obesity are among the most serious health challenges today. Structured weight reduction programs can be helpful to reduce severe health consequences but evidence is partly scarce. The STARKIDS program aims to improve on some of these limitations and is designed to be a structured, stepwise, digitally supported intervention program for the whole family. It is divided into two intervention steps spanning over 1.5 years and aims at promoting a healthy weight development of children/adolescents with overweight/obesity and an increase in quality of life.

Methods

The STARKIDS intervention is evaluated in a cluster-randomized study design by comparing it with a control group receiving a one-time structured counselling in the pediatric practice. The study aims to include 1000 families with children/adolescents with overweight/obesity from 100 pediatric practices. The main outcomes are reduction in body mass index percentiles and improvements in children’s/adolescent’s quality of life, secondary outcomes refer to the contents of the intervention such as diet, physical activity, stress, and media habits. All outcomes are measured on three measurement time points: (T0) at baseline/inclusion in the study, (T1) baseline + 12 months which is the end of step 1 of the STARKIDS intervention, and (T2) baseline + 18 months which is the end of step 2 of the STARKIDS intervention.

Discussion

The stepwise, e-health-supported STARKIDS program is a low-threshold intervention program for families with children/adolescents with overweight/obesity. With the proof of concept, STARKIDS provides the potential to be implemented as a standard care tool for the prevention and intervention of childhood/adolescence obesity in the German health system.

Trial registration

German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS) DRKS00022813 (acknowledged primary register of the World Health Organization). Registered on 27 November 2020 (Universal Trial Number U1111-1254-9536).