Chaplais E, et al. – Bone health in relation to obesity and impact of a structured intervention for obesity in children and adolescents were assessed via a systematic review and meta–analysis. As per findings, structured intervention benefitted general health in youth with obesity but failed to exert an impact on bone markers.

Methods

• Researchers searched Medline complete, OVID, CINAHL, EMBASE and PubMed databases for studies on obesity and bone health variables up to September 2016, then an update occurred in March 2016.
• Search items included obesity, childhood, dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and peripheral quantitative computed tomography.

Results

• As per data, 23 studies (14 cross-sectional and nine longitudinal) matched the inclusion criteria.
• Findings from the meta-analysis (cross-sectional studies) corroborated that children and adolescents with obesity have higher bone content and density than their normal weight peers.
• Researchers found that outcomes from longitudinal studies remained inconclusive as only 50% of the included studies reported a positive effect of a structured intervention program on bone health.