Cost-Benefit Analysis of Childhood Obesity Prevention and Control in China from the Perspective of Public Health Economy

Childhood obesity poses a huge economic burden and health problem in China. However, the lack of visualized data in the past literature to verify the effectiveness of measures to prevent and control childhood obesity has led to a lack of reliability of these strategies. In this paper, we collect the cost and benefit data of the strategies through the database and existing literature, and systematically analyze them using the cost-benefit model to verify the effectiveness and benefit of these strategies. We find that implementing interventions does reduce the economic burden of childhood obesity. We also find that some measures may initially increase health care costs, but ultimately indirectly reduce total health care costs. And socioeconomic status affects the effectiveness of different policies. We have discussed the theoretical and practical implications.