Abstract
Aim: The aim of this integrative review is to determine what features of interventions that intend to encourage healthy eating behaviours in children are beneficial to encourage healthy eating behaviours in school-aged children as a method to manage and prevent paediatric obesity.
Background: Implementing lifestyle changes, such as healthy eating, are proposed as the first line management to combat paediatric obesity. While strong evidence outlines the types and quantity of food that should be consumed by children, there are few evidenced based recommendations to achieve this change.
Method: An integrative review of the literature was conducted following the process outlined by Whittemore and Knafl (2005). A comprehensive search of five electronic databases was performed (CINAHL, Emcare, Medline(R), ProQuest and Scopus) from the years 2018 to 2023. The articles were screened by their titles, abstracts, and full text for their relevance to the review question and eligibility. Fourteen articles meeting the eligibility criteria were then evaluated for their quality using an appropriate Joanna Briggs Institute tool. The Whittemore and Knafl (2005) approach to data extraction and analysis was followed to analyse and synthesize the data from the articles.
Findings: Ten quantitative and two mixed method studies were included in this review. They each examined unique interventions that intended to improve the dietary intake of school-aged children. Three themes emerged from within the data, essence of interventions', grounded in theoretical framework' and, designated participants. This review determined that that no single approach is likely to be effective at preventing or managing paediatric obesity. Interventions need to be dynamic, versatile, responsive to their developmental stage, family situation and individualised to the needs of the children.