Using evidence to recommend interventions for long-term weight control in overweight children
Journal Article
Childhood obesity can lead to later life-threatening conditions that impact negatively on quality of life, morbidity and mortality outcomes. There are a considerable number of research studies, specifically interventions that have been conducted the last 2 decades with overweight children and their families. Yet, there is variability in the methodological rigor of the studies, and some of the more rigorous designs reported in meta-analyses are a challenge to implement in practice. Therefore, nurse practitioners who work with these children find it challenging to make feasible and effective recommendations. This paper describes a method that can be used to evaluate individual interventions that have been found effective for long-term weight control in children and adolescents. The RCTs from a 2009 meta-analysis of interventions for treating obesity in children and adolescents were evaluated for external validity using a generalizability assessment framework by Green and Glasgow. Pediatric nurse practitioners who deal with the complicated health challenges of obesity in children are best positioned to use evidence-based interventions to guide their recommendations to children and families. The framework presented in this paper will help guide their decisions on which interventions should be implemented.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Seal, N; Broome, M
Published Date
- 2011
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 7 /
Start / End Page
- 293 - 302
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 1555-4155
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1016/j.nurpra.2010.08.015