Assessing the Impact of Early Childhood Intervention Programs on Obesity Prevention: A comparative study

Background: Childhood obesity is a major global health concern with long-term implications. Early intervention programs (EIPs) have been developed to address this problem, emphasizing nutrition, physical activity, and behavior change. However, the comparative effectiveness of different types of EIPs remains unclear. Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of several EIPs to reduce Body Mass Index (BMI), improve dietary habits, and increase physical activity among children 4 to 12 years of age. Methods: This comparative study was conducted in schools and pediatric clinics in Lahore, Pakistan from February 2022 to June 2023. The current study included 550 children diagnosed with obesity who were selected using stratified random sampling. Participants had different types of EIPs including nutrition education, physical activities and behavioral counseling. Data on BMI, dietary habits and physical activity were collected before and after the interventions. SPSS version 27.0 was employed, Paired t tests, ANOVA and logistic regression were used to control for confounding variables, such as age and socioeconomic status. Results: Mean BMI was significantly reduced in all groups and had the largest reductions in programs exceeding 16 weeks (mean reduction of 1.4 units, p<0.001). Change in behavioral included increased fruit and vegetable intake (from 38% to 74%, p < 0.01) and reduced sugary beverage uptake (from 58% to 35%, p < 0.01). Program duration and parental involvement were significant predictors of success. Conclusions: Early intervention programs effectively reduce obesity metrics among children, with longer duration and parental involvement being key factors for success. These findings highlight the need for sustained, comprehensive programs to combat childhood obesity.