title: Web-based weight management programs for children and adolescents: a systematic review of randomized controlled trial studies.
abstract: More than 17% of children aged 6 to 19 years living in the United States are classified as overweight. Medical costs related to overweight and obesity were recently estimated to approximate $100 billion annually. The purpose of this systematic review was to provide the scientific evidence regarding Web-based weight management programs for overweight children and adolescents. Results suggest the potential for Web-based behavioral change programs for weight management in overweight children and adolescents. Future research should emphasize rigorous methodological adequacies, develop theory-based standardized frameworks, investigate types of interventions appropriate for boys and girls in this age group, evaluate long-term effect of interventions, and examine cost as well as clinical effectiveness.
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07102, USA. jiyounga@rutgers.edu
authors.forename: Ji-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Laura L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Hayman
authors.forename: Young-Shin
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Tresa K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Dusaj
authors.forename: Cynthia G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Ayres
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008297:Male; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011582:Psychological Theory; D011588:Psychology, Educational; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012107:Research Design; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D015431:Weight Loss