Early Prevention and Treatment Interventions for Childhood Obesity

Purpose of Review Childhood obesity is a challenge that pediatric providers face daily in the clinical setting. As a multifactorial chronic illness, obesity is complex, with numerous possible prevention, and treatment strategies. Clinical interventions in the primary care setting address factors such as promoting healthy behaviors from the beginning of life, increasing parental understanding of weight status and its relationship to health, dietary behaviors, screen time, and physical activity. These behaviors can be addressed through counseling and intervention tools, such as motivational interviewing. These interventions and tools can serve to strengthen clinical partnerships and unite practitioners and caregivers in successful obesity prevention and treatment. Recent Findings Despite increased efforts in policy, as well as clinical and community-based interventions, there has been no dramatic decrease in pediatric obesity, and the nation has actually seen increases in severe obesity. Pediatric providers are learning that many clinical interventions may be starting too late. Recent research shows a relationship between bottle size and early weight gain, significant screen time exposure beginning earlier in infancy than recommended, and relationships between early sleep and obesity, prompting the need for early counseling on these issues. There are some new findings about novel strategies, like incorporating the new principles of digital health, as well as the application of established tool of motivational interviewing applied to families with infants or young children. Summary Helping parents adopt behaviors in diet and physical activity is a challenge for pediatric health care providers. Pediatric health care providers’ use of tailored and easy-to-understand toolkits, motivational interviewing, culturally sensitive and patient-centered approaches, technology-enhanced care, and earlier interventions can be effective for the long-term success of obesity prevention and treatment in, and out of, the clinical setting.