Do the effects of interventions aimed at the prevention of childhood obesity reduce inequities?
A re-analysis of randomized trial data from two Cochrane reviews, published on the World Obesity Day - 4 March 2025.
A core principle of any public health guidance is to minimize health inequalities. The aim of this study was to collect primary trial results (including results not previously reported) to examine whether effects of interventions vary according to these PROGRESS factors (Place, Race/ethnicity, Occupation, Gender/sex, Religion, Education, Socio-economic status, and Social capital). Data from 81 studies were included, with the UNESCO Chair team contributing data from the randomized KaziBantu study from 2019 ( project website), which was collected directly from study participants as aggregated data by intervention and by subgroup and combined in meta-analyses.
The study team found no substantial impact of the interventions on PROGRESS subgroups, although in the younger age group (5–11 years), the effect of interventions (n = 45) on both BMI and standardized BMI was greater in boys. Those responsible for public health can be confident in promoting the types of interventions included in this meta-analysis to prevent obesity in children and young people (5–18 years), knowing there is no evidence that these types of interventions increase inequities.
Further information:
Palmer JC, Davies AL, Spiga F, Heitmann BL, Jago R, Summerbell CD, Higgins JPT, et al. Do the effects of interventions aimed at the prevention of childhood obesity reduce inequities? A re-analysis of randomized trial data from two Cochrane reviews. eClinicalMedicine. 2025;81:103130; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2025.103130