A Narrative Review of Public Health Interventions for Childhood Obesity.
William J HeermanErica KenneyJason P BlockLauren FiechtnerEllen McMahonLauren KruseMona SharifiEmma K EdmondsonSenbagam VirudachalamPublished in: Current obesity reports (2024)
Federal nutrition assistance programs have the strongest evidence to support reduction in childhood obesity and serve populations with the highest prevalence of childhood obesity. Other interventions including SSB taxes, community-wide interventions, and interventions at schools and early care and education centers also show significant improvements in child weight status. Overall public health interventions have strong evidence to support widespread implementation in service of reducing childhood obesity rates at the population level. To effectively address the recalcitrant childhood obesity epidemic, multi-pronged solutions are needed. The current evidence for public health obesity interventions is consistent with the paradigm that recognizes the importance of macrolevel systems influences on childhood obesity: interventions that are most effective intervene at macrolevels.