Atuação do enfermeiro na prevenção da obesidade infantil.

Childhood obesity is an important public health problem of multifactorial origin, associated with unhealthy eating habits, physical inactivity, and family, social, and environmental factors. In this context, nurses play a relevant role in health promotion and the prevention of excess weight. Objective: To analyze the role of nurses in the prevention of childhood obesity, identifying strategies, interventions, and barriers related to care. Methodology: An integrative literature review with a qualitative approach was conducted in the PubMed/MEDLINE, BVS, and LILACS databases, including studies published between 2022 and 2026 in Portuguese, English, and Spanish. The guiding question was structured using the PICO strategy, with DeCS/MeSH descriptors combined through the Boolean operators AND and OR. After applying the eligibility criteria, removing duplicates, and reviewing the studies, 20 articles comprised the final sample. Results: The studies were organized into two thematic categories. The first included 14 articles on strategies and interventions, highlighting health education, anthropometric assessment, dietary guidance, physical activity, family participation, school-based actions, and follow-up in Primary Health Care. The second included 6 articles on barriers and challenges, such as lack of time, resources, training, organizational difficulties, low family adherence, and socioeconomic factors. Discussion: The evidence reinforces the need for continuous, integrated, and multidisciplinary nursing practice. Conclusion: Nurses play an essential role in the early identification of risk factors and in the promotion of healthy habits, contributing to the prevention of childhood obesity.