Physical activity interventions in the prevention and treatment of paediatric XXXX : systematic review and critical appraisal.

@entity1 @entity23 @entity28
Interventions for prevention and treatment of @entity28 increases in physical activity and, more recently, reductions in physical inactivity (sedentary behaviour such as television viewing). However, the evidence base for such strategies is extremely limited. The main aim of the present review was to update the systematic review and critical appraisal of evidence in the light of the recent rapid expansion of research in this area. @entity23 ( @entity23 ) that targeted activity or inactivity, that followed up @entity1 or adolescents for at least 1 year and that included an objective weight-related outcome measure were included. Trials were appraised using previously published criteria (Harbour _ Miller, 2001), and literature search strategies described previously (Reilly et al. 2002) were updated to May 2002. A total of four new @entity23 , two new systematic reviews and one meta-analysis were identified. The evidence base has increased markedly since the completion of earlier reviews, although high-quality evidence is still lacking. The evidence on childhood @entity28 prevention is not encouraging, although promising targets for prevention are now clear, notably reduction in sedentary behaviour. There is stronger evidence that targeting activity and/or inactivity might be effective in paediatric @entity28 treatment, but doubts as to the generalisability of existing interventions, and the clinical relevance of the interventions is unclear. Further research in settings outside the USA is urgently needed, and two ongoing @entity23 in Scotland are summarised.
