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Updated: Mar 14, 2026
Assessment of Child Anthropometry in a Large Epidemiologic Study
Published on: February 2, 2017
[Non-selective primary prevention programs for childhood overweight : An overview]
1Institut für Epidemiologie, Sozialmedizin und Gesundheitssystemforschung, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, OE 5410, 30625, Hannover, Deutschland. Walter.Ulla@MH-Hannover.de.
Insights
Childhood obesity prevention programs in Germany show promise by addressing multiple risk factors and fostering collaboration. However, observed effects on health behaviors and anthropometric indicators remain weak, highlighting a need for more impactful strategies.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Health Promotion
Background:
- Childhood overweight and obesity prevalence remains high, necessitating effective primary prevention.
- Childhood obesity can lead to significant adult health issues, underscoring the importance of early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of universal primary prevention programs for childhood obesity in Germany.
- To evaluate the development and implementation of these programs between 2006 and 2015.
Main Methods:
- Conducted an internet search and a review of the Deutsche Ärzteblatt archive.
- Utilized keywords: primary prevention, children, obesity, and project.
- Identified 38 programs, selecting 13 for detailed description after exclusions.
Main Results:
- 38 programs and measures were identified, with 13 selected for detailed analysis.
- Most projects addressed multiple risk factors and facilitated networking among stakeholders.
- Many initiatives aimed to create sustainable environmental changes for children.
Conclusions:
- Insufficient publication hindered the full evaluation of some projects.
- Despite theoretical foundations, intervention effects on anthropometric indicators and health behaviors were often weak.
- Projects successfully networked relevant actors and aimed for sustainable environmental changes.
Background:
Despite an obvious stabilization the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity is still too high. Since childhood obesity may track into adulthood and lead to major health consequences, effective primary prevention programs are of high relevance.
Objective:
In recent years several universal primary prevention programs, measures or projects have been developed and evaluated in Germany. This paper gives an overview.
Methods:
An internet search and a search in the archive of the Deutsche Ärzteblatt were conducted to identify universal programs in Germany from 2006 to 2015. We used the combination of primary prevention, children, obesity and project for this online search.
Results:
We identified 38 programs and measures. After exclusion of non-adequate interventions (e. g. selective instead of universal) and any duplicates we selected 13 projects to be described.
Discussion:
Some projects provided insufficient information since they have not been adequately published. On the positive side, most projects simultaneously addressed various potential risk factors and achieved a successful networking of various relevant actors. In addition, many projects strived for creating the groundwork to allow for a sustainable change in the living environment of children. However, despite the fact that the concept of most projects was theory-based in most cases only weak intervention effects were observed on strong endpoints like anthropometric indicators and on health-related behaviors.
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