Overweight and obesity among children – Is there an association between school provided meals and BMI changes?

Abstract

Overweight and obesity has become a worldwide problem in the last decades. Among children aged 5-19, overweight and obesity prevalence has risen from 4% in 1975 to 18% in 2016. Children with overweight and obesity are also more likely to stay obese into adulthood. The consequences of being overweight and obese in childhood increases the risk of several non-communicable diseases and early morbidity. For children, school is a place where they spend most of the time during the day and consume one to two meals during the school day. Provided school meals play an important role in the overall health of children and their learning outcomes. The aim of this thesis is to assess if there is an association between school provided meals and weight change in school-aged children. This systematic review included 16 studies.