Sports Management in Preventing Obesity in Adolescents: A Narrative Review with International Models and Recommendations for Türkiye

Abstract

ABSTRACT Adolescent obesity is increasing worldwide and in Türkiye, while participation in regular physical activity declines during secondary school years. Because individual motivation alone cannot overcome obesogenic environments, sports should be managed as a public health service with clear governance, equity, safeguarding and measurable outcomes. This narrative review synthesizes evidence on sports management approaches (planning, organization, financing, workforce development and monitoring) to prevent obesity among adolescents. The literature indicates that the most effective strategies are multi-component: quality physical education, active breaks and active recess, inclusive after-school sports, safe active transport, school–municipality–sports club partnerships, and digital supports integrated with nutrition, sleep and screen-time actions. International system models such as Finnish Schools on the Move, The Daily Mile, Comprehensive School Physical Activity Programs/Active Schools, Sporting Schools, and ParticipACTION demonstrate that whole-school and whole-system management can improve physical activity opportunities and fitness indicators at scale. For Türkiye, a feasible pathway is a school-centered, municipality-supported ‘active school’ ecosystem with prioritized access for girls and disadvantaged groups, standardized safeguarding policies, sustainable financing, and routine monitoring using school-based fitness and health indicators.

Keywords

• adolescent
• obesity prevention
• sports management
• school health
• physical activity

Adölesan Çocuklarda Obezite Önlenmesinde Spor Yönetimi: Uluslararası Modeller ve Türkiye İçin Önerilerle Anlatımsal Bir Derleme

Abstract

ÖZET Adölesanlarda obezite dünya genelinde ve Türkiye’de artarken, düzenli fiziksel aktiviteye katılım özellikle ortaokul-lise döneminde belirgin biçimde azalmaktadır. Obesojenik çevre koşullarında yalnızca bireysel motivasyona dayalı yaklaşımlar yetersiz kaldığından, sporun halk sağlığı hizmeti gibi yönetilmesi; yönetişim, eşitlik, güvenli spor (safeguarding) ve ölçülebilir çıktılarla yapılandırılması gereklidir. Bu anlatımsal derleme, adölesanlarda obeziteyi önlemede spor yönetimi bileşenlerine (planlama, organizasyon, finansman, insan gücü geliştirme ve izlem-değerlendirme) ilişkin kanıtları sentezlemektedir. Kanıtlar; en etkili stratejilerin çok bileşenli olduğunu göstermektedir: nitelikli beden eğitimi, sınıf içi aktif molalar ve aktif teneffüs, kapsayıcı okul sonrası spor, güvenli aktif ulaşım, okul–belediye–spor kulübü ortaklıkları ve dijital destekler; beslenme, uyku ve ekran süresi müdahaleleri ile entegre yürütülmelidir. Finlandiya ‘Schools on the Move’, Birleşik Krallık ‘The Daily Mile’, ABD ‘CSPAP/Active Schools’, Avustralya ‘Sporting Schools’ ve Kanada ‘ParticipACTION’ gibi modeller, okul kültürünü dönüştüren ve sistem düzeyinde yönetilen programların ölçeklenebilir olduğunu göstermektedir. Türkiye için uygulanabilir yol; okul merkezli, belediye destekli ‘aktif okul’ ekosisteminin kurulması, kız çocukları ve dezavantajlı gruplar için erişimin önceliklendirilmesi, standart güvenli spor politikaları, sürdürülebilir finansman ve okul temelli uygunluk/sağlık göstergeleri ile rutin izlem yapılmasıdır.

Keywords

• adölesan
• obezite önleme
• spor yönetimi
• okul sağlığı
• fiziksel aktivite

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