What are the determinants of childhood obesity? : Aliterature review as part of the project "Nationwide Monitoring of Childhood Obesity Determinants"

Abstract

Obesity can impair health even in childhood and unfold negative health consequences through an individual's lifespan. In Germany, to date, asystematic and periodically updated synopsis of the multifaceted determinants of childhood obesity is lacking. In this paper, we present the results of asystematic literature review on childhood obesity determinants, which was conducted over the course of the implementation of nationwide monitoring. The review was carried out in three steps. Initially, asearch for etiological models of childhood obesity was conducted. Based on these results, asystematic review of reviews on childhood obesity determinants was carried out. Finally, the results were verified by taking international guidelines on childhood obesity into account. In total, 21etiological models, 75reviews and 7guidelines were identified. Over 60determinants were extracted from these publications and were summarized into the following categories: nutritional behavior, physical activity behavior, sleeping pattern, biological determinants and diseases, prenatal and early childhood determinants, psycho-social determinants, food environment, moveability/walkability, setting and social environment, health promotion and prevention, socioeconomic, demographic, and sociocultural determinants. This review demonstrates the complex patterns of childhood obesity determinants in correspondence with asocio-ecological approach. The review will form the basis for the monitoring-system "Nationwide Monitoring of Childhood Obesity Determinants", which will be implemented at the Robert Koch Institute by the end of 2017.