Categories
Change Password!
Reset Password!
Meal replacement plans achieve 3.4%–6.3% BMI reduction within 4–12 weeks in adolescents with obesity, though long-term weight maintenance remains uncertain.
Adolescent obesity continues to rise globally, posing serious long-term health risks including cardiometabolic disease and reduced quality of life. While lifestyle modification programs remain the cornerstone of treatment, many adolescents struggle to achieve meaningful weight reduction through diet and physical activity alone. A new systematic review highlights the potential role of meal replacement plans (MRPs) as an alternative strategy for managing obesity in young people.
Noraishah Mohamed Nor and other researchers conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library to identify studies examining the impact of MRPs on adolescents with overweight or obesity. Eligible studies incorporated pilot trials, randomized controlled trials, and cohort studies involving participants aged 10–18 years. The analysis focused on intervention design, weight-loss outcomes, sustainability, and safety.
Overall, 7 studies met the eligibility criteria, with sample sizes ranging from 30 to 2,825 adolescents. Across these studies, MRPs were implemented either as very-low-energy diets or partial meal replacement regimens. The findings showed that MRPs consistently produced short-term weight reduction, with adolescents experiencing a 3.4% to 6.3% decrease in body-mass index (BMI) within 4 to 12 weeks.
The review also found that outcomes improved when MRPs were combined with supportive strategies. Caregiver involvement, pharmacologic therapy such as exenatide, and financial incentives enhanced adherence and weight-loss outcomes in several trials. Emerging tools such as digital health interventions and structured family support programs also demonstrated promise in sustaining behavioral changes.
However, the long-term effectiveness of MRPs remains uncertain. While some studies reported maintenance of weight loss, others observed weight regain after 12 months, highlighting challenges in sustaining dietary interventions among adolescents. Researchers emphasize that integrating MRPs with behavioral therapy, family engagement, and ongoing support systems may improve long-term outcomes. Safety data from the included studies were generally reassuring. Reported side effects were mild and temporary, including hunger, fatigue, and nausea, and importantly, no studies identified negative effects on adolescent growth or development.
Overall, MRPs can provide effective short-term weight reduction for adolescents with obesity, particularly when combined with behavioral support, caregiver participation, or pharmacologic treatment. However, researchers stress the requisition for long-term clinical trials and extended follow-up to determine whether these interventions can deliver sustained weight control during adolescence.
International Journal of Allied Health Sciences
Meal Replacement Plans in Managing Adolescent Obesity: A Systematic Literature Review
Noraishah Mohamed Nor et al.
Comments (0)