Prevention of Childhood Obesity: A Multifactorial and Interdisciplinary Approach
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/QS.2026.52.69360Keywords
childhood obesity, pediatric obesity, prevention od childhood obesity, health education, lifestyle, physical activity, sleep, interventionAbstract
Background. Childhood obesity has been increasingly becoming one of the most significant public health challenges worldwide, with its substantial ties to long-term metabolic and cardiovascular complications.
Aim. This review aims to analyze the main risk factors that lead to the development of obesity among the pediatric population, as well as to summarize the current preventative strategies.
Materials and methods. A narrative literature review has been conducted using the PubMed database, including original studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses published between 2015 and 2025.
Results. The evidence gathered leads to the conclusion that childhood obesity is largely influenced by genetic predisposition, sedentary lifestyle, excessive screen time, insufficient sleep, unhealthy dietary patterns, and socioeconomic determinants.
Conclusions. To prevent further exacerbation of the problem, several strategies can be implemented, including early nutritional interventions, promotion of regular physical activity, limitation of screentime, sleep hygiene education, school-based health programs, and active involvement of caregivers. The issue needs to be handled using interdisciplinary measures to influence individual behaviors and environmental factors to reduce long-term health consequences.
References
1. Szczyrska J. Pediatric obesity – time to act as early as possible. Pediatric Endocrinology Diabetes and Metabolism. 2023;29(4):267-273. https://doi.org/10.5114/pedm.2023.133122
2. Zhang S, Qin X, Li P, Huang K. Effect of Elective Cesarean Section on Children's Obesity From Birth to Adolescence: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Pediatr. 2022 Jan 27;9:793400. PMID: 35155315; PMCID: PMC8829565. https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2021.793400
3. Wills-Ibarra N, Chemtob K, Hart H, Frati F, Pratt KJ, Ball GD, Van Hulst A. Family systems approaches in pediatric obesity management: a scoping review. BMC Pediatr. 2024 Apr 2;24(1):235. PMID: 38566046; PMCID: PMC10985863. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-024-04646-w
4. Chen K, Zheng F, Zhang X, Wang Q, Zhang Z, Niu W. Factors associated with underweight, overweight, and obesity in Chinese children aged 3-14 years using ensemble learning algorithms. J Glob Health. 2025 Feb 7;15:04013. PMID: 39913538; PMCID: PMC11804908. https://doi.org/10.7189/jogh.15.04013
5. Minabe S, Sutoh Y, Otsuka-Yamasaki Y, Komaki S, Nakao M, Ohmomo H, Hasegawa Y, Ishigaki Y, Tanno K, Sasaki M, Shimizu A. Risk factors and prediction for pediatric obesity: current status and future perspectives. Endocr J. 2025 Jul 1;72(7):765-779. Epub 2025 Apr 9. PMID: 40204469; PMCID: PMC12260193. https://doi.org/10.1507/endocrj.EJ24-0724
6. Młynarska E, Bojdo K, Bulicz A, Frankenstein H, Gąsior M, Kustosik N, Rysz J, Franczyk B. Obesity as a Multifactorial Chronic Disease: Molecular Mechanisms, Systemic Impact, and Emerging Digital Interventions. Curr Issues Mol Biol. 2025 Sep 23;47(10):787. PMID: 41150735; PMCID: PMC12564886. https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb47100787
7. Khadilkar V, Shah N, Harish R, Ayyavoo A, Bang A, Basu S, Chatterjee S, Chhatwal J, Elizabeth KE, Ghate S, Gupta A, Kinjawadekar U, Kumar R, Mishra S, Sakamuri K, Saxena V, Singh H, Singh P, Sud A, Tiwari S. Indian Academy of Pediatrics Revised Guidelines on Evaluation, Prevention and Management of Childhood Obesity. Indian Pediatr. 2023 Dec 15;60(12):1013-1031. PMID: 38087786. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13312-023-3066-z
8. Umano GR, Bellone S, Buganza R, Calcaterra V, Corica D, De Sanctis L, Di Sessa A, Faienza MF, Improda N, Licenziati MR, Manco M, Ungaro C, Urbano F, Valerio G, Wasniewska M, Street ME. Early Roots of Childhood Obesity: Risk Factors, Mechanisms, and Prevention Strategies. Int J Mol Sci. 2025 Jul 30;26(15):7388. PMID: 40806516; PMCID: PMC12348045. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26157388
9. Drozdz D, Alvarez-Pitti J, Wójcik M, Borghi C, Gabbianelli R, Mazur A, Herceg-Čavrak V, Lopez-Valcarcel BG, Brzeziński M, Lurbe E, Wühl E. Obesity and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors: From Childhood to Adulthood. Nutrients. 2021 Nov 22;13(11):4176. PMID: 34836431; PMCID: PMC8624977. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13114176
10. Chung ST, Krenek A, Magge SN. Childhood Obesity and Cardiovascular Disease Risk. Curr Atheroscler Rep. 2023 Jul;25(7):405-415. Epub 2023 May 31. PMID: 37256483; PMCID: PMC10230147. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11883-023-01111-4
11. Tester JM, Rosas LG, Leung CW. Food Insecurity and Pediatric Obesity: a Double Whammy in the Era of COVID-19. Curr Obes Rep. 2020 Dec;9(4):442-450 Epub 2020 Oct 16. PMID: 33064269; PMCID: PMC7562757. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13679-020-00413-x
12. Romanelli R, Cecchi N, Carbone MG, Dinardo M, Gaudino G, Miraglia Del Giudice E, Umano GR. Pediatric obesity: prevention is better than care. Ital J Pediatr. 2020 Jul 24;46(1):103. PMID: 32709246; PMCID: PMC7379757. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13052-020-00868-7
13. Porri D, Luppino G, Aversa T, Corica D, Valenzise M, Messina MF, Pepe G, Morabito LA, La Rosa E, Lugarà C, Abbate T, Coco R, Franchina F, Lanzafame A, Toscano F, Li Pomi A, Cavallaro P, Wasniewska MG. Preventing and treating childhood obesity by sleeping better: a systematic review. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2024 Sep 19;15:1426021. PMID: 39363896; PMCID: PMC11446760. https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2024.1426021
14. Morrison S, Jackson R, Haszard JJ, Galland BC, Meredith-Jones KA, Fleming EA, Ward AL, Elder DE, Beebe DW, Taylor RW. The effect of modest changes in sleep on dietary intake and eating behavior in children: secondary outcomes of a randomized crossover trial. Am J Clin Nutr. 2023 Feb;117(2):317-325. PMID:36863827. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajcnut.2022.10.007
15. Yuan C, Dong Y, Chen H, Ma L, Jia L, Luo J, Liu Q, Hu Y, Ma J, Song Y. Determinants of childhood obesity in China. Lancet Public Health. 2024 Dec;9(12):e1105-e1114. Epub 2024 Nov 20. PMID: 39579777. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2468-2667(24)00246-9
16. Jacob CM, Hardy-Johnson PL, Inskip HM, Morris T, Parsons CM, Barrett M, Hanson M, Woods-Townsend K, Baird J. A systematic review and meta-analysis of school-based interventions with health education to reduce body mass index in adolescents aged 10 to 19 years. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2021 Jan 4;18(1):1. PMID: 33397403; PMCID: PMC7784329. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-020-01065-9
17. Klein DH, Mohamoud I, Olanisa OO, Parab P, Chaudhary P, Mukhtar S, Moradi A, Kodali A, Okoye C, Arcia Franchini AP. Impact of School-Based Interventions on Pediatric Obesity: A Systematic Review. Cureus. 2023 Aug 8;15(8):e43153. Erratum in: Cureus. 2024 May 24;16(5):c179. PMID: 37692730; PMCID: PMC10484325.https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.43153
18. Tragomalou A, Moschonis G, Kassari P, Papageorgiou I, Genitsaridi SM, Karampatsou S, Manios Y, Charmandari E. A National e-Health Program for the Prevention and Management of Overweight and Obesity in Childhood and Adolescence in Greece. Nutrients. 2020 Sep 18;12(9):2858. doi: 10.3390/nu12092858. PMID: 32961973; PMCID: PMC7551883. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu12092858
19. Deal BJ, Huffman MD, Binns H, Stone NJ. Perspective: Childhood Obesity Requires New Strategies for Prevention. Adv Nutr. 2020 Sep 1;11(5):1071-1078. PMID: 32361757; PMCID: PMC7490151. https://doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmaa040
20. Wilhite K, Booker B, Huang BH, Antczak D, Corbett L, Parker P, Noetel M, Rissel C, Lonsdale C, Del Pozo Cruz B, Sanders T. Combinations of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Sleep Duration and Their Associations With Physical, Psychological, and Educational Outcomes in Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review. Am J Epidemiol. 2023 Apr 6;192(4):665-679. PMID: 36516992; PMCID: PMC10089066. https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwac212
21. Wójcik M, Zachurzok A. Obesity in children: inheritance and treatment - state of art 2024. Pediatr Endocrinol Diabetes Metab. 2024;30(3):112-115. doi: 10.5114/pedm.2024.144042. PMID: 39451183; PMCID: PMC11538914. https://doi.org/10.5114/pedm.2024.144042
22. Ali A, Al-ani O, Al-ani F. Children’s behaviour and childhood obesity. Pediatric Endocrinology Diabetes and Metabolism. 2024;30(3):148-158. https://doi.org/10.5114/pedm.2024.142586
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Sylwia Pietrajtis, Kinga Rosołowska, Izabela Kluczyńska, Angelika Juszczyk, Magdalena Lelek
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Stats
Number of views and downloads: 17
Number of citations: 0
