[The Approach to Childhood Obesity in Spain's Health Plans: a scoping review]

This paper aimed to evaluate the approach to childhood obesity in health plans and specific plans on obesity and childhood obesity at the national and/or regional level in Spain. Evaluating the approach to childhood obesity in regional and national health plans will make it possible to determine the extent to which this public health issue is prioritized and to identify potential areas for improvement, thereby providing evidence to support the development of more effective, coordinated, and equitable policies in Spain.

A scoping review was carried out by consulting the institutional websites of health administrations and using the Google search engine; this began in March 2025 and was updated until May 2025, in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR 2018 guidelines. Documents identified as general health plans or specific plans for obesity/childhood obesity at the national and regional levels were included. Six dimensions were defined for the evaluation: analysis and diagnosis, objectives, programs, financing, implementation, and evaluation, organized in twenty-four items. A qualitative synthesis of the plans addressing childhood obesity was performed.

Twenty-two plans were identified: sixteen general regional health plans, two specific national obesity plans (one focused on childhood obesity) and four obesity-specific regional plans (three of them on childhood obesity). Nine regional general plans included objectives related to childhood obesity, although most of them (n=8) were not quantified. The establishment of programs and activities in a defined manner specifically for childhood obesity was a deficient aspect of the plans identified.

The approach to childhood obesity in health plans and obesity-specific plans in Spain is limited. Greater specificity is required in the objectives, programs, and activities, with a more targeted approach. This allows us to reflect on the gaps in opportunity that need to be addressed in order to develop health plans related to childhood obesity.