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Preventing obesity in pre-school children: a literature review

Karen L Saunders1

  • 1Department of Health West Midlands, Government Office for the West Midlands, 5 St Philips Place, Birmingham B3 2PW, UK. karen.saunders@dh.gsi.gov.uk

Journal of Public Health (Oxford, England)
|October 5, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Childhood obesity prevention requires more research. Current evidence on effective strategies for children under five is limited and of poor quality, highlighting a need for well-designed studies.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Pediatrics
  • Preventive Medicine

Background:

  • Childhood obesity is a growing global health concern with significant long-term and short-term health implications.
  • Obesity prevention is a key public health priority, particularly in the UK, addressing diet, physical activity, and environmental factors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the existing literature on effective strategies for preventing obesity in children under five years of age.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive literature review was conducted focusing on studies related to the prevention of obesity in young children (under 5).

Main Results:

  • The review found limited and immature evidence regarding effective obesity prevention strategies for younger children.
  • The overall quality of the existing studies is poor, indicating a lack of robust research in this area.

Conclusions:

  • There is a critical need for structured, focused, and systematic research into child obesity prevention.
  • Prioritizing well-designed studies that examine a variety of interventions is essential.
  • The findings align with recommendations from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines on obesity.
Abstract

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