Systematic Review: Behavioural Strategies and Childhood Obesity

This systematic review examines behavioral strategies to encourage dietary changes in primary school-aged children to prevent obesity. The report begins with an introduction to childhood obesity, its global prevalence, and the rationale for the review, highlighting the importance of primary prevention through dietary control and behavioral interventions. The methodology section details the search strategy, selection criteria, data extraction, and quality assessment methods used. The results present the database search outcomes, characteristics of included studies, risk of bias assessments, and main intervention effects. The discussion interprets these findings, addressing limitations and suggesting directions for future research. The review emphasizes the role of environmental, social, and economic factors, along with the importance of parental and caregiver involvement in promoting healthy eating habits. The conclusion underscores the need for comprehensive, multi-faceted approaches to combat childhood obesity, including dietary modifications, physical activity, and behavioral changes, to effectively address the rising global issue.