Study reveals key insights on why preconception and pregnancy interventions struggle to prevent childhood obesity
A new scoping review published in our journal Obesity Reviews sheds light on the challenges faced by preconception and pregnancy lifestyle interventions in preventing childhood obesity.
The study, conducted by researchers from University College Dublin, emphasises the need for earlier, more comprehensive interventions supported by better process evaluations and stakeholder involvement.
Childhood obesity is a pressing global issue, with significant implications for long-term health and well-being. The latest estimates from the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC) are that 159 million children and adolescents aged 5-19 years were living with obesity in 2022.
Despite various interventions targeting critical windows during preconception and pregnancy, the success of these strategies in reducing childhood obesity remains limited. This latest study explores the reasons behind these shortcomings and offers recommendations for improving future interventions.
The challenges of current interventions
The review examined 27 trials involving over 14,000 women and their offspring, revealing several common issues. Most notably, the interventions often begin too late - typically during the second or third trimester of pregnancy - potentially missing critical developmental periods. Additionally, many interventions are short in duration and involve sample sizes that are too small to demonstrate significant effects.
Intervention complexity is another major challenge. While many programmes address multiple behaviours, such as diet and physical activity, they often lack the necessary flexibility and fail to engage partners or the broader social network of participants. This lack of comprehensive support can undermine the sustainability of the lifestyle changes being promoted.
Furthermore, the review highlights a significant gap in the process evaluations of these interventions. Without thorough evaluations, it is difficult to understand how the interventions are implemented, how participants engage with them, and what factors contribute to their success or failure.
READ THE STUDY
Recommendations for future interventions
The study’s authors stress the importance of initiating interventions as early as possible, ideally before conception. They also recommend involving partners and other stakeholders to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of the interventions. Additionally, the review calls for more robust process evaluations to ensure that interventions are appropriately tailored to different populations and settings.
The authors conclude that a multi-faceted approach, which considers the broader social and environmental factors influencing obesity, is crucial for improving the outcomes of these interventions.
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World Obesity publishes four scientific, peer-reviewed journals, each focusing on a different area of obesity research: systematic reviews, pediatrics, clinical treatment, and science and practice.
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