title: Interventions for the treatment of obesity among children and adolescents in Latin America: a systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this systematic literature review was to identify evidence-based strategies associated with effective healthcare interventions for prevention or treatment of childhood obesity in Latin America.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review of peer-reviewed, obesity-related interventions implemented in the healthcare setting was conducted. Inclusion criteria included: implementation in Latin America, aimed at overweight or obese children and evaluation of at least one obesity-related outcome (e.g., body mass index (BMI), z-score, weight, and waist circumference, and body fat).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five interventions in the healthcare setting targeting obese children in Latin America were identified. All five studies showed significant changes in BMI, and the majority produced sufficient to large effect sizes through emphasizing physical activity and health eating.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the limited number of intervention studies that treat obesity in the healthcare setting, there is evidence that interventions in this setting can be effective in creating positive anthropometric changes in overweight and obese children.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Behavioral and Community Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, EUA.
authors.forename: Brian J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Nagle
authors.affiliation: Institute for Behavioral and Community Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, EUA.
authors.forename: Christina K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Holub
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.
authors.forename: Simón
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barquera
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.
authors.forename: Luz María
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Romero
authors.affiliation: Institute for Behavioral and Community Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, EUA.
authors.forename: Christina M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Eisenberg
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.
authors.forename: Juan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rivera-Dommarco
authors.affiliation: Institute for Behavioral and Community Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, EUA.
authors.forename: Setoo M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.affiliation: Global Health Promotion Office, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, EUA.
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lobelo
authors.affiliation: Institute for Behavioral and Community Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, EUA.
authors.forename: Elva M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Arredondo
authors.affiliation: Institute for Behavioral and Community Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, EUA.
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Elder
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000886:Anthropometry; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055105:Waist Circumference