Table 1 Results of individual studies included in the current review

Sleep protocol administered as a stand-alone intervention

 Moreno-Frias (2019) [29]

Participants were instructed to restrict 500 kcal from their usual diet. Participants in the intervention group were instructed to extent sleep duration of 1 h with incremental daily increases in addition to the calorie restriction. The intervention group also received recommendations on sleep hygiene.

Sleep and diet

Yes. Sleep time (p < .02), sleep time at weekend (p < .035), sleep efficiency (p < .03) improved in the control group; sleep time (p < .000001), sleep time at midweek days (p < .00004) and at weekend (p < .00004), time in bed (p < .00001), time awake in bed (p < .011), and sleep efficiency (p < .006) improved in the intervention group.

4 weeks

RCT

108

Adolescents (n = 52) aged 14–18 years with a BMI > 30 kg/m2 corresponding to adult values.

4 weeks

Weight, waist circumference, energy consumption, sleep time, sleep time at midweek day, sleep time at weekend, time in bed, time awake in bed, sleep efficiency, glucose, HDL, Non-HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, leptin, insulin, HOMA-IR, 6-Sulfatoxymelatonin, cortisol, IL-6, and TNF-a

In the control group, energy consumption and weight decreased; sleep time and sleep efficiency increased. In the intervention group, energy consumption, weight, waist circumference, IL-6, HOMA-IR, and insulin level decreased; sleep duration and sleep efficiency increased. The decrease in weight and waist circumference was greater in the intervention group compared to the control group.

Multicomponent interventions

 Moore (2019) [32]

Children and one of their parents were randomized into one of the three groups: (1) Healthy Change intervention, (2) System Change intervention, and (3) education-only control group for three years. The intervention groups, despite being based on different theories, both received small group discussions and individualized coaching. Additional coaching was provided to children at the highest risk for excessive body weight or weight gain.

Diet, physical activity, sedentary activity, sleep, and stress management

No (only measured change)

3 years

RCT

360

Children (n = 360, entering 6th grade at baseline) with BMI > = 85th percentile and one of their parents or guardians. Participants were primarily African American (77%) and had a family income of < 25,000 per year.

3 years

BMI, waist circumference, tricep skinfold thickness, dietary intake, physical activity, sleep, fitness, blood pressure, and a set of cardiometabolic variables

No differences were found in any outcome variables between the three study groups.

 Niederer (2013) [33]

Children participated in weekly physical activity sessions and lessons on nutrition, media use, and sleep. Parents participated in discussions on physical activity, nutrition, and media use. Teachers received training on the intervention content. The school environment was modified to promote physical activity. The control group continued their regular school physical activity curriculum.

Physical activity, nutrition, media use, and sleep

Not measured

9.5 months

Cluster RCT

655

Children from preschool classrooms with a > 40% prevalence of (predominantly German and French) migrants in Switzerland

9.5 months

BMI, aerobic fitness, sum of four skinfolds (SF), waist circumference

The intervention had a significant effect on SF and motor agility for both children with overweight and normal weight. Aerobic fitness only improved among children with normal weight. Children with overweight benefited more from the intervention on waist circumference compared to those with normal weight. Children with low fit benefited more on BMI, SF, and waist circumference from the intervention compared to children with normal fit.

 Taylor (2015) [35]

Children and parents participated in a tailored program that consisted of consulting sessions with a multidisciplinary team for a total of 6–7 h over 2 years. The families in the control group received 45–75 min of consulting with a researcher over the 2-year study period.

Parenting, dietary intake, and physical activity

No

2 years

RCT

271

Children aged 4–8 years with BMI > = 85th percentile and their parents

2 years

BMI (and z-score), waist circumference, waist to height ratio, percentage fat, parental feeding practices, child behavior, dietary intake, home food availability, physical activity, sleep

Children in the intervention group had a lower BMI, BMI z-score, waist circumference, and waist to height ratio, and were more physically active than those in the control group. Parents in the intervention group reported higher fruit and vegetable intake, lower noncore food intake, less noncore food present in the home than those in the control group.

 Perdew (2021) [30]

Children and parents participated in a community-based program that consisted of 10 weekly 90-minute group educational sessions, 4 community-based activities and the interactive web-portal. The control group had 4 group educational sessions and full access to the web-portal.

Physical activity, diet, sleep hygiene, and parenting

Not measured

10 weeks

Quasi-experimental (RCT failed due to low recruitment)

71

Children aged 8–12 years at or above 85th percentile and their parents

10 weeks

BMI z-score, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, screen time, sedentary behavior, child dietary behaviors, parental support for healthy eating and physical activity, and self-regulation for healthy eating and physical activity support.

Children in the intervention group showed improved moderate-to-vigorous physical activity level, parental support for healthy eating and physical activity, self-regulation for healthy eating behaviors and physical activity. No differences were observed in BMI z-score between the two groups.

 Taveras (2015) [34]

Families (via clinicians or clinicians and health coaches) were provided educational materials about screen time, sugar-sweetened beverages, physical activity, and sleep. Another intervention group received additional individualized health coaching. The control group received usual care according to their pediatric office.

Screen time, sugar-sweetened beverages, physical activity, and sleep

Not measured

1 year

Cluster RCT

549

Children aged 6-12.9 years with a BMI > = 95th percentile and their parents

1 year

BMI (and z-score) and quality of care

Children in the two intervention groups had a smaller mean increase in BMI and BMI z-score compared to those in the control group. The improvements in BMI were greater in the intervention group without the health coaching.

 Delli Bovi (2021) [34]

Families participated in a personalized mobile messaging intervention with (IG2) and without (IG1) additional monthly in-presence recall visits. The messages focused on healthy behavior and encouragement to reinforce the behavior. The control group received usual care.

Sugary drinks, fruit and vegetables consumption, breakfast, meal portions, screen-time, physical activity, and sleep

No (hr)

24 weeks

Quasi-experimental

103

Children aged 6–14 years with a BMI > 95th percentile and their parents

24 weeks

BMI (and z-score), waist circumference, neck circumference, blood pressure, obesity-related acanthosis nigricans (AN), sleep duration, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and diet

Children in IG1 had greater improvements in BMI, BMI z-score, and reduction of waist and neck circumference excess compared to the control group at 3 months; no differences at 6 months. Children in IG2 had greater improvements in BMI, BMI z-score, blood pressure, and degree of AN compared the control group at 3 months; the improvements in BMI and AN persisted at 6 months. Compared to the IG1 group, IG2 group showed greater improvements in BMI z-score, waist circumference, and degree of AN.

 Skjåkødegård (2022) [36]

Families participated in a family-based behavioral social facilitation treatment (FBSFT) delivered at an obesity outpatient clinic which included 17 individual family sessions. The control group received a personalized plan for healthy behavior change and was encouraged to participate in monthly counseling sessions with nurses.

Diet, sleep, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep

Yes. There was a significant difference in changes in sleep timing (mid-sleep time) from pre- to post-treatment (-26.3 min, p = .037) between the intervention and control groups.

178 ± 47 days

RCT

114

Children aged 6–18 years with BMI > = 35 kg/m2 or BMI > = 30 kg/m2 in the presence of weight-related comorbidities

18 months

BMI (and its standard deviation score), sleep, physical activity, and diet

There were significant differences in changes in BMI SDS (p < .001), and %IOTF-25 (p < .001) from pre- to post-treatment between the intervention and control groups. BMI SDS (p < .001) and %IOTF-25 (p < .001) decreased in the intervention group from pre- to post-treatment.