title: School-based programs aimed at the prevention and treatment of obesity: evidence-based interventions for youth in Latin America.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rapidly rising childhood obesity rates constitute a public health priority in Latin America which makes it imperative to develop evidence-based strategies. Schools are a promising setting but to date it is unclear how many school-based obesity interventions have been documented in Latin America and what level of evidence can be gathered from such interventions.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a systematic review of papers published between 1965 and December 2010. Interventions were considered eligible if they had a school-based component, were done in Latin America, evaluated an obesity related outcome (body mass index [BMI], weight, %body fat, waist circumference, BMI z-score), and compared youth exposed vs not exposed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten studies were identified as having a school-based component. Most interventions had a sample of normal and overweight children. The most successful interventions focused on prevention rather than treatment, had longer follow-ups, a multidisciplinary team, and fewer limitations in execution. Three prevention and 2 treatment interventions found sufficient improvements in obesity-related outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found sufficient evidence to recommend school-based interventions to prevent obesity among youth in Latin America. Evidence-based interventions in the school setting should be promoted as an important component for integrated programs, policies, and monitoring frameworks designed to reverse the childhood obesity in the region.
authors.affiliation: Global Health Promotion Office, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NE, MS K-40 Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. rlobelo@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lobelo
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Garcia de Quevedo
authors.forename: Christina K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Holub
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Nagle
authors.forename: Elva M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Arredondo
authors.forename: Simón
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barquera
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Elder
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003479:Curriculum; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012574:Schools; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Latin America; children; obesity; school-based interventions