Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 10, 2025

Author Spotlight: Exploring the Impact of Reduced Resistance Exercise Volume on Metabolic Health
06:13

Author Spotlight: Exploring the Impact of Reduced Resistance Exercise Volume on Metabolic Health

Published on: December 1, 2023

1.4K

A Review of Registered Randomized Controlled Trials for the Prevention of Obesity in Infancy

Seema Mihrshahi1,2,3, Danielle Jawad3, Louise Richards3

  • 1Department of Health Systems and Populations, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
|April 3, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Preventing childhood obesity is crucial. This review of 29 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) found many interventions improved healthy practices, but more data is needed to confirm long-term weight outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Pediatrics
  • Preventive Medicine

Background:

  • Childhood overweight and obesity represent a significant global public health challenge.
  • Early childhood is a critical period for establishing lifelong health behaviors.
  • Identifying effective interventions for obesity prevention in young children is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically describe planned, ongoing, and completed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) focused on preventing obesity in early childhood.
  • To analyze the characteristics and methodologies of these interventions.
  • To assess the current evidence base for early childhood obesity prevention strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Searched two major clinical trial registries: WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform and ClinicalTrials.gov.
  • Included RCTs with a primary aim of preventing childhood obesity and child weight-related outcomes.
  • Defined interventions as starting within the first two years of life, lasting at least 6 months postnatally, including lifestyle/behavioral components, and with a minimum 2-year follow-up.

Main Results:

  • Identified 29 unique RCTs implemented since 2008, predominantly in high-income countries.
  • Interventions encompassed a wide range of strategies including diet, activity, sleep, emotion regulation, parenting education, home visits, and group sessions.
  • Eleven trials reported child weight-related outcomes, but most lacked sufficient power for significant effect detection. However, many showed improvements in practices like breastfeeding, screen time, and physical activity.

Conclusions:

  • Numerous RCTs are investigating early childhood obesity prevention, employing diverse lifestyle and behavioral interventions.
  • While improvements in healthy practices are observed, conclusive evidence on long-term weight-related outcomes is limited due to power and follow-up constraints.
  • Continued follow-up of ongoing trials is necessary to fully evaluate the long-term effectiveness of these early childhood obesity prevention strategies.

Keywords:
behaviourschildhoodinfant feedinginterventionsobesityphysical activityprevention

More Related Videos

Multidisciplinary Approach to Obesity Management: A Case Report05:10

Multidisciplinary Approach to Obesity Management: A Case Report

Published on: May 30, 2025

612
Palatable Western-style Cafeteria Diet as a Reliable Method for Modeling Diet-induced Obesity in Rodents09:10

Palatable Western-style Cafeteria Diet as a Reliable Method for Modeling Diet-induced Obesity in Rodents

Published on: November 1, 2019

11.1K

Related Concept Videos

Obesity01:24

Obesity

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a numerical value derived from a person's weight and height, used to categorize individuals into weight ranges. It is calculated using the formula: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. Obesity is a health condition characterized by excessive accumulation of adipose tissue that poses health risks, often diagnosed with a BMI ≥ 30. This excess fat storage occurs when surplus dietary calories are converted into triglycerides and stored in...
888
Regulation of Food Intake01:30

Regulation of Food Intake

Short-term regulation of food intake primarily involves neural signals from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, blood nutrient levels, and GI tract hormones. Communication between the gut and brain via vagal nerve fibers plays a significant role in evaluating the contents of the gut. Clinical studies have shown that protein ingestion produces a more prolonged response in these nerve fibers compared to an equivalent amount of glucose. Additionally, the activation of stretch receptors caused by GI...
1.5K
Parentral Nutrition: Centeral and Peripheral Parental Nutrition01:27

Parentral Nutrition: Centeral and Peripheral Parental Nutrition

Parenteral Nutrition (PN) delivers essential nutrients directly into the bloodstream, bypassing the digestive system. It is commonly used for individuals with severe digestive disorders or conditions that prevent normal nutrient absorption.
PN can be administered through two primary routes:
1. Central Parenteral Nutrition (CPN):
CPN involves delivering a high concentration of nutrients through a large vein. This is typically achieved using a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) or,...
430
Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches01:23

Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches

Biopharmaceutical studies constitute a vital field aiming to enhance drug delivery methods and refine therapeutic approaches, drawing upon diverse interdisciplinary knowledge. In research methodologies, the choice between controlled and non-controlled studies significantly influences the study's reliability and accuracy.
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast,...
236
Study Designs in Epidemiology01:20

Study Designs in Epidemiology

Epidemiological study designs are fundamental tools for investigating the distribution, determinants, and control of health conditions in populations. They help researchers understand the relationships between exposures and outcomes, and they broadly fall into two categories: "observational" and "experimental" studies.
Observational studies are those where the researcher does not intervene but rather observes natural variations. They include cross-sectional, cohort, and...
587
Cancer Prevention02:59

Cancer Prevention

Several factors can increase the risk of cancer in an individual. About 50% of cancer cases can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise, eating healthy, and following a modest cancer prevention diet. Epidemiological studies have consistently shown that populations with vegetable and fruit-rich diets have reduced the incidence of cancer. On the other hand, populations who have a diet rich in animal fat, red meat, junk food, or high calories are predisposed to cancer.
Some...
7.2K