Socially Sustainable Interventions for Childhood Obesity Management: A Scoping Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Childhood obesity is a pressing global health issue. Addressing this multifaceted issue requires comprehensive interventions, particularly those improving social sustainability by strengthening support systems in families, schools, and communities. This scoping review explored interventions aimed at enhancing social sustainability to improve anthropometric outcomes in overweight and obese children.

A literature search was conducted from 2 August to 1 September 2025 and included all studies published up to the latter date using PubMed, Scopus, Virtual Health Library, and Cochrane Library databases. Inclusion criteria were (a) children (2-12 y); (b) socially sustainable, family-, community-, or school-centered interventions targeting childhood obesity; (c) body weight, BMI (absolute or z-score), body fat, or waist circumference assessment; and (d) publication as a randomized controlled trial. Methodological quality was assessed using the 11-point PEDro scale.

Eleven studies were included (N = 39,902). Mean intervention duration was 27 months. BMI z-score and prevalence of overweight/obese children, assessed in 9 of 11 studies, were the most common anthropometric outcomes, followed by absolute BMI in 8 of 11 studies. Most studies were rated "fair" or "good" quality and indicated that school-, community- and family-oriented interventions may effectively improve anthropometric variables in pediatric obesity.

Socially sustainable, multi-level interventions involving families, schools, and community systems appear to optimize anthropometric outcomes in childhood obesity by integrating health promotion into children's daily social settings and reinforcing consistent, health-oriented norms and resources. Further studies employing independent, blinded evaluators, culturally sensitive components in interventions, and adequate participant adherence reports are required to enhance practical and clinical application.