First Name:
Michael
Last Name:
Cutshall
Major Department:
Cell and Molecular Biology
Thesis Director:
Dana Brackney
Date of Thesis:
May 2013
Type-2 diabetes has become an increasing problem among the youth populations worldwide. In order to improve quality of life and decrease financial burdens on individuals as well as the healthcare system as a whole, it is important to reduce metabolic risk factors among youth. The objective of this systematic review was to determine the most effective characteristics of non-pharmacological interventions for reducing the risk of type-2 diabetes in the youth population. PubMed and CINAHL were systematically searched for studies including interventions for reducing the risk of type-2 diabetes. A total of twenty-nine articles met all inclusion criteria. Articles were categorized based on their intervention locations: school-based (n=6), family-based (n=3), community-based (n=6), clinically-based (n=13), as well as one review article. Study qualities as well as outcome measures were compiled and analyzed to identify characteristics of effective interventions. Most studies demonstrated improved metabolic outcomes. However, no one individual intervention demonstrated effectiveness for all groups. Tailoring interventions to the target population while including means of on-going support may contribute the most to effective reduction of metabolic risk.