Effects of behavioural interventions for preventing obesity in young children from ethnic minority backgrounds: a systematic review of randomised controlled trials

BACKGROUND: Tackling childhood obesity represents a significant public health challenge associated with several adverse health and psychological outcomes, with increased prevalence in ethnically diverse populations. Early intervention is required to promote healthy weight from early childhood and reduce health inequalities. A systematic review was conducted to synthesise evidence from randomised trials of behavioural interventions that target obesity prevention among young ethnic minority children aged 0-5 years in high-income countries. METHODS: Medline, PsycINFO, Scopus and PubMed were searched for articles published between 1995 and 2023 to examine the theoretical and cultural adaptation strategies associated with the most effective interventions. A narrative synthesis using SWiM guidelines was conducted to summarise the data. RESULTS: Forty-four articles reporting on thirty-eight unique RCT intervention studies are reported. Around one-third of the interventions resulted in a difference in weight, which favoured the intervention when compared to the control. Behavioural interventions that utilise deep and tailored cultural adaptation strategies may be more effective in changing dietary practices and weight outcomes but may be less important in increasing physical activity levels. The theoretical domains and behaviour change techniques associated with the most promising success are reported. CONCLUSIONS: Collaborative partnerships with diverse families alongside wider community stakeholders may offer a more effective solution to ensure obesity prevention interventions remain tailored to the local context and provide sustainable solutions that can deliver increased impact.