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Updated: Apr 23, 2026
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
Effect of childhood obesity prevention programmes on blood lipids: a systematic review and meta-analysis
L Cai1, Y Wu, L J Cheskin
1Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Johns Hopkins Global Center on Childhood Obesity, Department of International Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Insights
Childhood obesity prevention programs show significant benefits for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). These interventions offer valuable insights into improving cardiovascular health in children.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Cardiovascular Health
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a growing public health concern with potential long-term cardiovascular implications.
- Blood lipid profiles are crucial indicators of cardiovascular risk in children and adolescents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of childhood obesity prevention programs on blood lipid levels in high-income countries.
- To determine if diet and/or physical activity interventions influence lipid profiles in children aged 2-18 years.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental studies, and natural experiments.
- Searched multiple databases (MEDLINE, Embase, etc.) up to April 2013 for relevant studies with follow-up periods of 6-12 months or more.
- Included studies focused on general populations of children aged 2-18, excluding those targeting only overweight/obese children or those with pre-existing conditions.
Main Results:
- Pooled analysis revealed significant beneficial effects on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C).
- Total cholesterol and triglyceride levels showed non-significant changes.
- Seventy percent of interventions demonstrated consistent effects (significant or none) on both adiposity and lipid outcomes; 15% improved both, while 55% had no significant impact on either.
Conclusions:
- Childhood obesity prevention programs can positively impact key blood lipid markers, specifically LDL-C and HDL-C.
- Incorporating lipid assessments provides additional valuable information for evaluating the effectiveness of obesity prevention strategies.
- These findings underscore the importance of comprehensive obesity prevention efforts for pediatric cardiovascular health.
Abstract:
We aimed to assess the effects of childhood obesity prevention programmes on blood lipids in high-income countries. We searched MEDLINE®, Embase, PsychInfo, CINAHL®, clinicaltrials.gov, and the Cochrane Library up to 22 April 2013 for relevant randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental studies and natural experiments published in English. Studies were included if they implemented diet and/or physical activity intervention(s) with ≥1 year follow-up (or ≥6 months for school-based intervention studies) in 2-18-year-olds, and were excluded if they targeted only overweight/obese children, or those with a pre-existing medical condition. Seventeen studies were finally included. For total cholesterol, the pooled intervention effect was -0.97 mg dL(-1) [95% confidence interval (CI): -3.26, 1.32; P = 0.408]; for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), -6.06 mg dL(-1) (95% CI: -11.09, -1.02; P = 0.018); for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), 1.87 mg dL(-1) (95% CI: 0.39, 3.34; P = 0.013); and for triglycerides, -1.95 mg dL(-1) (95% CI: -4.94, 1.04; P = 0.202). Most interventions (70%) showed similar significant or no effects on adiposity- and lipids outcomes: 15% interventions improved both adiposity- and lipids outcomes; 55% had no significant effects on either. Childhood obesity prevention programmes had a significant desirable effect on LDL-C and HDL-C. Two-thirds of interventions showed similar significant or no effects in adiposity- and lipids outcomes. Assessing lipids outcomes provide additional useful information on obesity prevention programme benefits.
