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The Impact of Allied Health Professionals on the Primary and Secondary Prevention of Obesity in Young Children: A Scoping Review
Griffiths, A. Haythorne, R. Kelly, G. Matu, J. Brown, T. Ahmed, K. Hindle, L. Ells, L.
Griffiths, A.
Haythorne, R.
Kelly, G.
Matu, J.
Brown, T.
Ahmed, K.
Hindle, L.
Ells, L.
Publication Date
2023-06
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©2023 The Authors. This is an Open Access article distributed under the Creative Commons CC-BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Peer-Reviewed
Yes
Open Access status
openAccess
Accepted for publication
2022-11-02
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Abstract
Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) have the capacity to promote healthy
behaviours in young children through routine ‘contact points’, as well as structured weight
management programmes. This scoping review aims to evaluate the impact of AHPs in the
prevention of obesity in young children.
Methods: Databases were searched for relevant evidence between 1st January 2000 and 17th
January 2022. Eligibility criteria included primary evidence (including, but not limited to;
randomised controlled trials, observational studies, service evaluations) evaluating the
impact of AHPs on the primary and secondary prevention of obesity in young children (mean
age under five years old).
Results: AHP related interventions typically demonstrated improvements in outcomes such
as nutritional behaviour (e.g., lower sweetened drink intake), with some reductions in screen
time. However, changes in weight outcomes (e.g., Body Mass Index (BMI) z score, BMI) in
response to an AHP intervention were inconsistent. There was insufficient data to determine
moderating effects, however tentative evidence suggests that those with a lower
socioeconomic status or living in an underprivileged area may be more likely to lose weight
following an AHP intervention. There was no evidence identified evaluating how AHPs use
routine ‘contact points’ in the prevention of obesity in young children.
Conclusion: AHP interventions could be effective in optimising weight and nutritional
outcomes in young children. However, more research is required to determine how routine
AHP contact points, across the range of professional groups may be used in the prevention
of obesity in young children.
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Published version
Citation
Griffiths A, Brooks R, Haythorne R et al (2023) The Impact of Allied Health Professionals on the Primary and Secondary Prevention of Obesity in Young Children: A Scoping Review. Clinical Obesity. 13(3): e12571.
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Article