Obesity Prevention Research Articles

This review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of GLP-1 receptor agonists, and metabolic and bariatric surgery in managing childhood obesity and associated conditions. It discusses current trends, challenges, and the potential of these treatments to improve cardiometabolic health in children and adolescents. Lifestyle modifications, though recommended as first-line therapy, show modest efficacy in weight management. GLP-1 receptor agonists like liraglutide and semaglutide have demonstrated significant weight loss and improvement in metabolic outcomes. Bariatric surgery, particularly Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, and vertical sleeve gastrectomy have shown substantial long-term benefits in weight reduction and remission of comorbidities in adolescents with severe obesity. While early intervention with lifestyle changes is recommended for prevention and management of obesity in children, pharmacotherapy, and surgical options may be needed. Utilizing these approaches can optimize weight loss and improve long-term health outcomes, highlighting the need for a multidisciplinary strategy to address this growing public health issue.

Current studies tend to stress on the overall prevention of pediatric obesity, whereas few of them focus on effective measures of preventing diagnosed obesity from deteriorating into severe obesity and from developing cardio-metabolic comorbidities. This study was conducted to thoroughly analyze: (i) the cardio-metabolic characteristics, and (ii) the importance ranking and warning model of risk factors of metabolic disorder in children and adolescents with severe obesity. This is designed as a nested cohort study with data sourced from an ongoing Southwest China Pediatric Obesity Prevention and Control Study (SCPOPCS). Children and adolescents with obesity aged 3-18 years were enrolled. Anthropometric indices, vital signs, metabolic laboratory tests, and self-administrated questionnaire were collected at first outpatient visit. 236 cases of children and adolescents with obesity were enrolled (176 mild; 60 severe). Results showed that systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and heart rate, as well as weight, height, BMI, body circumferences, triceps and abdominal skinfold were significantly higher in children with severe obesity. Besides, a remarkably higher prevalence of metabolically unhealthy obesity was shown in children with severe obesity. Moreover, five independent contributing risk factors of severe obesity were derived from multivariate analyses, namely: Allergy diagnosed before 3 years old (aOR 2.696; 95% CI 1.350-5.436; p = 0.005), Pregnancy complicated with obesity (aOR 3.881; 95% CI 1.213-12.471; p = 0.021), Pregnancy complicated with cholestasis (aOR 4.641; 95% CI 1.141-19.582; p = 0.031 ), Frequency of siesta per week (aOR 1.773; 95% CI 1.177-2.693; p = 0.006 ) and Frequency of dining out per week (aOR 1.804; 95% CI 1.040-3.144; p = 0.036), as well as one independent protective factor, which was Bedtime on weekday nights (aOR 0.571; 95% CI 0.339-0.938; p = 0.030). This study attempted to understand the physiological changes induced by severe obesity, and we found that severe obesity had higher risk of metabolic syndromes, including especially hypertension, abnormal glucose metabolism, fatty liver and abnormal uric acid metabolism. A predictive model with good fitting degree was built, from which we derived five independent risk factors and one protective factor of severe obesity.

The human race is facing a novel and enormous health challenge due to the rapidly unfolding global epidemic of obesity. Childhood obesity continues to increase significantly throughout the world with possible future consequences of developing insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, impaired glucose tolerance or Type 2 diabetes etc. To fight obesity, it is most important to identify the risk factors of childhood obesity. Therefore, it was planned to conduct this study, to explore the prevalence of childhood obesity in the studied population and to identify the risk factors contributing to the problem among these obese children that may help to design effective local prevention efforts and to develop recommendations for the prevention and management of obesity for a developing country like Bangladesh for a healthy tomorrow. J Shaheed Suhrawardy Med Coll 2024; 16(1): 22-27

Background/Objectives: Childhood obesity remains a critical public health concern in Greece, particularly among socioeconomically vulnerable groups. This study conducted a secondary analysis of five large-scale epidemiological datasets to examine the association between energy balance-related behaviours (EBRBs) and obesity in children in need. Methods: Data were compiled from five nationally or regionally representative studies (Genesis, ToyBox, Healthy Growth, ENERGY, and Feel4Diabetes) involving children aged 1–12 years. Stratified and subgroup analyses were performed to examine associations between weight status and EBRBs, including dietary habits, physical activity, and sedentary behaviour. Determinants of EBRBs were also analysed using the socio-ecological model framework. Results: Children in need demonstrated a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity compared to the general child population. Key risk factors for EBRBs included frequent consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, sweet snacks, and high screen time. Protective behaviours associated with lower obesity risk included regular breakfast consumption, adequate sleep duration, and physical activity. Determinants of high-risk EBRBs were primarily interpersonal and, to a lesser extent, individual and community-level factors. Conclusions: These findings highlight the disproportionate burden of childhood obesity among vulnerable populations and identify modifiable behaviours and determinants that can inform targeted interventions. These results provide a robust evidence base to guide national public health policies, including the development of school- and community-based obesity prevention programmes aligned with the goals of Greece’s National Action Against Childhood Obesity. Prioritising children in need in such initiatives is essential to reduce health inequities and improve long-term health outcomes.

Obesity is a risk factor for various diseases. The prevalence of obesity is increasing in cats. The present study aimed to characterize adipose gene expression to obtain basic information for obesity prevention in feline adipose tissues. Visceral fat, subcutaneous fat, or both fat depots were collected from 81 hospitalized cats. The multivariate analysis of covariance revealed that sex and IGF-1 were involved in regulating body condition score (BCS), showing adiposity in both fat depots. BCS was positively and negatively regulated by expression levels of inflammation-related genes in visceral fat, respectively. In addition, subcutaneous Lep expression positively regulated BCS. Positive correlations between gene expression levels were generally detected within the same fat depot, whereas expression levels of genes in visceral fat were less related to those in subcutaneous fat, except for the same gene. Expression levels of Ucp1 were most variable among individuals in visceral fat but not in subcutaneous fat. The extent of individual variability on expression levels in cats was similar to that in the previous results using dogs. Genes related to mitochondrial respiration and uncoupling were relatively variable among individuals. The present study suggests that feline energy metabolism in adipose tissues is finely tuned in a fat depot-dependent manner. In addition, genes related to mitochondrial respiration and uncoupling may be a target for the control of systemic energy status because they can be potentially regulated by every individual.

Childhood obesity is a significant public health challenge, with Mediterranean countries showing high prevalence rates. While genetic factors play a role, diet and physical activity (PA) are critical modifiable influences. Emphasizing healthy dietary patterns, like the Mediterranean diet, and promoting regular PA can help mitigate obesity risk. MELI-POP is a randomized controlled multi-center clinical trial in a cohort of children aged 3 to 6years at baseline and being at obesity risk. The main objective consists on assessing the efficacy of an intervention during early childhood, considering a healthy lifestyle based on the promotion of a Mediterranean dietary pattern and regular PA, compared with a control group, on decreasing obesity incidence 5 and 10years after the beginning of the intervention. It is expected to include 310 children, aged 3 to 6years, having at baseline a normal weight or overweight according to the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) criteria, and at least one parent having a body mass index > 25kg/m2. The clinical trial has two arms and is performed in Spanish Primary Health Care centers. The control group receive usual care by healthcare professionals. The intervention group receive education on Mediterranean diet and PA, combined with the provision of extra-virgin olive oil and fish, in order to be consumed at least 2 times per week. Free PA sessions with a physical education teacher are also offered for the children (3 sessions of 60min of moderate-vigorous PA per week). The participants' adherence to the intervention is periodically monitored. The study primarily focuses on adiposity as the main outcome, with secondary outcomes encompassing dietary intake and eating habits, physical activity and lifestyle behaviors (including extracurricular sports, screen time, and sleep duration), physical fitness, biochemical parameters (such as inflammation and cardiometabolic biomarkers, fatty acids, and oxidation), as well as microbiota, genetic, omic and metabolomic analyses. Beneficial results are expected by preventing obesity during childhood, and associated comorbidities. ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT04597281.

Background: Obesity is a well-established risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF) and adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), initially developed for glycemic control, have shown promise in reducing cardiovascular risk independent of diabetes. However, their effect on arrhythmic and cardiovascular outcomes in non-diabetic obese populations remains poorly defined. Research Question: In obese adults without diabetes, does GLP-1 RA therapy reduce the 1-year incidence of atrial fibrillation, mortality, heart failure, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) compared to standard care? Methods: We utilized the TriNetX US Collaborative Network to identify adults ≥18 years with obesity and no history of diabetes from 2014–2022. Patients initiating GLP-1 RAs formed the treatment cohort. Controls were patients with obesity and no GLP-1 RA exposure. One-to-one propensity score matching (n=118,781 per group) was performed on demographics, cardiovascular comorbidities, and medication use. Outcomes were assessed at 1 year, excluding patients with pre-existing conditions. The primary outcome was incident AF while secondary outcomes were all-cause mortality, heart failure (HF), and three-point major adverse cardiovascular events (3P-MACE: acute MI, stroke, cardiac arrest). Results: GLP-1 RA use was associated with significant reductions across all endpoints: Atrial Fibrillation: 0.4% vs 0.7% (RR 0.605 [95% CI 0.542–0.675]; HR 0.563 [95% CI 0.504–0.628]; p<0.001); Mortality: 0.2% vs 1.0%, (RR 0.203 [95% CI 0.177–0.232]; HR 0.190 [95% CI 0.165–0.218]; p<0.001); Heart Failure: 0.6% vs 1.2% (RR 0.479 [95% CI 0.438–0.525]; HR 0.446 [95% CI 0.407–0.489]; p<0.001); 3P-MACE: 0.4% vs 0.9% (RR 0.429 [95% CI 0.384–0.480]; HR 0.399 [95% CI 0.357–0.446]; p<0.001). Kaplan-Meier survival curves confirmed significantly higher event-free survival in the GLP-1 RA cohort for all endpoints. No increase in AF subtypes (paroxysmal, persistent, chronic) was observed. Propensity-matching yielded well-balanced cohorts across age, sex, race, comorbidities, and medication exposure. Conclusion: Among obese adults without diabetes, GLP-1 RA was associated with a substantial reduction in new-onset AF, all-cause mortality, HF, and MACE at one year. These findings support a potential role for GLP-1 RAs in primary cardiovascular prevention in obesity, beyond their metabolic benefits, and underscore the need for dedicated randomized controlled trials.

KEY MESSAGES FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS Obesity is a complex chronic disease in which abnormal or excess body fat (adiposity) impairs health, increases the risk of long-term medical complications, and reduces lifespan. Obesity arises from a complex interplay of genetic, biological, behavioural, psychosocial and environmental factors, and can develop via slow and steady weight gain over an extended period, or from rapid bursts of weight gain. Obesity prevention should take place in a range of settings that access whole populations or high-risk groups. The individual-based approach to prevention is primarily used by healthcare providers and targets those with the highest level of risk of obesity. The population-based approach addresses the behavioural, sociocultural and environmental factors that contribute to non-communicable diseases in populations, including obesity. Primary care clinicians have an important role in early identification of people living with obesity. Regular assessments of body weight are needed to catch early weight gain. (See the chapters ‘Assessment of people living with obesity’ and ‘Primary care and primary healthcare in obesity management’.) Primary care clinicians should initiate discussion around weight gain early and contemplate interventions that consider its complex causes, providing guidance beyond ‘eat less and move more’. Many medications are associated with weight gain side-effects that can contribute to long-term weight gain. The risks and benefits of such medications should be weighed up for each specific person before prescribing. Excess pregnancy weight gain and post-pregnancy weight retention are significantly reduced with behavioural interventions. Primary care clinicians should counsel women attending prenatal care not to exceed pregnancy weight gain guidelines, in the course of dietary, physical activity and psychological interventions during prenatal visits. Health benefits of smoking cessation outweigh the cardiovascular consequences associated with smoking cessation-related weight gain. Short-term behavioural interventions (generally 6 months or less) aimed at preventing weight gain during young adulthood, menopause, smoking cessation and breast cancer treatment have not yet been shown to be effective. Longer-term interventions are likely to be needed to properly examine strategies for preventing weight gain for many of these high-risk groups and in the general population.

Background: Obesity is a growing public health concern in Italy, with prevalence reaching 21.6% in 2022, particularly among the elderly. To address this issue, the ObeCare project was implemented to promote obesity prevention and awareness through community pharmacies. This study aimed to evaluate obesity-related knowledge, lifestyle behaviors, and risk perception among participants engaged in the ObeCare project. Methods: A survey was administered to individuals >18 years old across Italian pharmacies involved in the ObeCare initiative by trained pharmacists. A validated questionnaire assessed obesity-related knowledge, risk perception, lifestyle behaviors, demographics, clinical conditions, and Body Mass Index (BMI). A multinomial logistic regression was implemented to identify predictors of overweight and obesity. Results: Obesity was more prevalent among men, older adults, and those with multiple comorbidities. Healthier lifestyle and greater health knowledge were significantly associated with having a normal BMI, whereas low lifestyle scores (OR 13; 95% CI 2.96–57.85) and the presence of multiple comorbidities (OR 14.79; 95% CI 8.00–27.36) were strong predictors of obesity. Individuals with obesity exhibited lower knowledge (OR 1.55; 95% CI 1.02–2.37) and risk perception. Conclusions: This study highlights the significance of lifestyle habits, knowledge, and risk perception, which will be helpful in the prevention and management of obesity. These findings support community-based education and targeted interventions, especially for high-risk groups such as men, retirees, and residents of Southern Italy.

BackgroundSchools play a crucial role in shaping children’s growth and development. In Indonesia, however, school food environments face major challenges in promoting nutrition and healthy lifestyles. These environments are increasingly dominated by unhealthy ultra-processed products (UPPs), limited nutritious options and inadequate opportunities for physical activity—key contributors to rising childhood obesity rates.MethodsWe explored the drivers of childhood obesity and barriers to prevention in selected school food environments using qualitative data from in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with 165 purposefully selected participants across four study areas, field observations and a desk review of relevant regulations. Data were analysed through an iterative content analysis approach, using a predefined variable indicator matrix outlining key study themes.ResultsFindings show frequent consumption of unhealthy snacks and sweetened drinks in and around schools, driven by a lack of food environment regulations. Barriers to healthier diets include children’s food preferences, limited parental time and the widespread availability of UPPs. While school-based physical activity was generally adequate, sedentary behaviours at home were common. Key gaps include limited teacher capacity, inadequate health education materials and weak data sharing and referral mechanisms for obesity between schools and community health services.ConclusionStrengthening school food environments regulations in Indonesia is urgently needed. Priorities include developing national canteen guidelines, restricting the sale and marketing of UPPs and high-fat, salt and sugar foods, adopting interpretative front-of-pack labelling schemes and promoting equitable physical activity opportunities. Improving knowledge, capacity and coordination among schools, parents and health workers is also critical.

High-quality early care and education (ECE) programs, characterized by safe environments, emotionally supportive communication, proactive behavior supports, and teacher self-care practices, play a pivotal role in healthy child development. Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (ECMHC) is an evidence-based approach designed to strengthen these environments and support young children’s social–emotional outcomes. However, the long-term impacts of ECMHC models remain understudied. Grounded in ECMHC, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Jump Start Plus COVID Support (JS+CS) in supporting child psychosocial outcomes (prosocial behaviors and reduced externalizing/internalizing behaviors) over two school years. In a cluster-randomized trial, 12 ECE centers received the 14-week JS+CS intervention, and 12 attention control centers received a 14-week obesity prevention program. Children were followed over two school years to determine long-term impacts on behavior, measured by the Devereux Early Childhood Assessment (DECA) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Over two school years, significant time-by-group interactions emerged for primary child outcomes. The JS+CS group showed greater improvements in DECA Initiative and Self-Regulation (p = 0.01 and p = 0.02, respectively) compared to controls. JS+CS significantly enhanced child psychosocial functioning, supporting its potential as an effective model for a scalable mental health consultation in ECE settings.

Childhood obesity remains one of the most significant public health challenges worldwide, with its prevalence increasing across both developed and developing countries. This narrative review examines a wide range of childhood obesity prevention strategies, emphasizing cultural considerations, dietary practices, tailored interventions, evaluation methods, and sustainability. The review identifies how ethnic-specific norms, family involvement, and community participation shape intervention outcomes, particularly among high-risk populations such as Hispanic communities. Diverse dietary practices underscore the importance of culturally tailored and multisectoral approaches, while the evaluation of interventions highlights the need for standardized metrics to assess success. Although numerous programs especially school- and community-based initiatives have achieved short-term reductions in body mass index and behavioral improvements, long-term sustainability remains a critical challenge due to funding limitations, community resistance, and weak institutionalization. Comparative analyses of global and European interventions reveal mixed outcomes, indicating that multi-level, culturally sensitive, and family-centered strategies yield the most promising results. The review concludes that innovative, sustained, and collaborative efforts integrating behavioral, environmental, and policy approaches are essential for achieving meaningful reductions in childhood obesity worldwide. Keywords: Childhood obesity prevention, Cultural considerations, Dietary interventions, Community-based strategies and Public health sustainability.

Background: Childhood Obesity is a significant and growing Public Health threat among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) children and adolescents in Australia. Health sectors in Australia have been focusing on health intervention programs across various states to prevent childhood obesity. This review aims to analyse the impact of obesity intervention programs conducted among children and adolescents of ATSI communities across Australia and report on the best practices for conducting future research. Objectives: This scoping review synthesised existing literature on the obesity prevention interventions programs among ATSI Children and Adolescents in Australia and examined their scope, implementation, and outcomes; evaluated their cultural appropriateness; and highlighted critical enablers and barriers. Methods: This scoping review analysed scholarly journal articles that reported on the findings of obesity intervention programs delivered across ATSI children and adolescents. Only Quasi-experimental and Randomized Control Trials (RCTs) were selected for the review. A full search has been carried out in Health databases such as Cochrane Library, Medline, PubMed, and ProQuest Central for the past 15 years. The framework of the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) for Scoping reviews was followed throughout this review. Results: Eleven studies met inclusion criteria. Findings were clustered into five themes: (i) community-led, systems-based interventions improved health behaviours and anthropometry; (ii) culturally tailored, community-embedded programs enhanced engagement and health literacy; (iii) early childhood and family-focused approaches showed promise; (iv) community or policy initiatives yielded mixed results; and (v) behavioural interventions were ineffective without addressing social and structural determinants. The most effective programs were community-delivered, multi-stakeholder, and centred on empowerment and capacity building. Conclusions: Obesity prevention efforts targeting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and adolescents are most successful when community-led, culturally grounded, and supported by multiple stakeholders. These findings underscore the necessity of culturally sensitive, participatory approaches. Further research is needed to strengthen the evidence base and inform sustainable, policy-relevant strategies for childhood obesity.

LN19183 is a proprietary blend containing Citrus aurantifolia fruit rind and Theobroma cacao seed extracts in a 2:1 ratio. Recently, LN19183 was found to improve serum glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) levels after 16 weeks of intake in overweight adults. However, its specific mechanisms remain unknown. Therefore, the present study evaluated whether LN19183 acts through the bitter taste receptor-phospholipase C (PLC)-calcium signaling pathway in the human enteroendocrine L-cell line NCI-H716. The results showed that LN19183 dose-dependently increased relative GLP-1 secretion and reached statistical significance at 50 µg/mL (P<0.05). At the same dose, LN19183 selectively amplified the mRNA expression of bitter taste receptors (hTAS2R3, hTAS2R45, and most strongly, hTAS2R46) and concurrently increased the mRNA expression of α-gustducin. In addition, LN19183 upregulated the mRNA expression of proglucagon and prohormone convertase 1/3. To determine its mechanisms, cells were treated with U73122 (a PLC inhibitor) and 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate (an inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor inhibitor). These treatments inhibited the mRNA expression of proglucagon and secretion of GLP-1. Collectively, these findings indicate that LN19183 activates hTAS2R46-α-gustducin-PLC signaling to stimulate the biosynthesis and secretion of GLP-1. These data provide a molecular rationale for the increase in GLP-1 observed in previous animal and human studies of LN19183, thereby positioning this botanical as a promising adjunct for the prevention or comanagement of obesity and related metabolic diseases.

BackgroundThe implementation of nutritional interventions could improve eating habits, contributing to the prevention of overweight and obesity in children.ObjectiveTo modify eating habits through interventions involving food and nutritional education and emotional psychoeducation among school-age children.MethodsThis longitudinal study included a sample of 635 students from four public primary schools; these students were assigned to an intervention group (IG) or a control group (CG). Anthropometric measurements were performed to determine nutritional status, and body image perception, body dissatisfaction, stress, anxiety and depression were evaluated. A 14-week intervention and a final assessment were carried out. The effect size was calculated using Cohen’s “d” statistic.ResultsThe general prevalence of overweight and obesity was 46.3%. When the size of the intergroup effect of nutritional intervention was analyzed, a positive effect on fruit (d = 0.201) and dairy consumption (d = 242) was observed.ConclusionThe nutritional intervention effectively modulated school children’s food consumption.

BackgroundPediatric obesity is a major public health concern worldwide. In Saudi Arabia, school nurses can play a pivotal role in prevention, yet their practices are influenced by multiple contextual factors. This study explored the factors shaping school nurses’ attitudes and behaviors toward pediatric obesity prevention.MethodsA constructivist grounded theory approach was used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 school nurses working in private primary schools in Saudi Arabia. Data were analyzed using Charmaz’s process, with theoretical sampling to refine emerging categories. A focus group with three experts was conducted to confirm and validate the generated theory.ResultsEleven participants contributed to the analysis. Three categories (Struggling, Avoiding, and Competing Priorities) and one core category (Lacking Support) emerged to collectively represent the social process, Jumping Hurdles: A Pathway to Professional Growth.ConclusionsThis substantive theoretical model advances understanding of the factors shaping school nurses’ roles in pediatric obesity prevention in Saudi Arabia. Findings highlight the need for actionable policies and school-level support to strengthen nurses’ contributions. For policymakers and school administrators, investing in structural support, targeted training, and resource allocation may enhance nurses’ capacity to engage effectively in obesity prevention and ultimately improve student health outcomes.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12912-025-04021-9.

Background With increasing obesity rates, community-based interventions (CBIs) have gained attention as more evidence suggests that the environment has a significant impact on individuals’ behaviors. We aimed to conduct a systematic review of CBIs for preventing overweight/obesity in children and adolescents. Subject and methods We searched PubMed (January 2011–December 2024) for studies evaluating CBIs for the prevention of overweight and obesity. We included controlled interventional studies that reported weight-related outcomes. The assessment of risks of bias of the included studies was performed using the Cochrane Collaboration tool. Results are reported in systematic evidence tables, including information on main study characteristics and effect sizes. Results A total of 2,724 articles were retrieved, of which 37 publications representing 28 projects from seven world regions were included for review. Most of the interventions targeted children. Reported intervention effects ranged from none to small effects. A beneficial intervention effect was observed in 11 out of 16 studies that calculated the intervention effect for BMI z-score and in seven out of nine studies for the prevalence of overweight/obesity. Effect sizes ranged from −0.26 to −0.03 for the BMI z-score and up to an adjusted odds ratio of 0.65 in the intervention group compared to the control group, with respect to the prevalence of overweight/obesity. The risk of bias of the studies was moderate to high. Conclusion Overall, our study found inconclusive evidence on the benefits of CBIs. While creating health-promoting environments can influence population-wide nutrition and physical activity behaviors by making healthy choices more accessible, methodological challenges exist to accurately capture the true effects of CBIs.

Background Limited evidence exists on how early-life weight changes relate to cardiovascular damage in adolescents. We aimed to investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) trajectories from childhood to adolescence and elevated blood pressure (BP) and elevated carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in adolescents. Methods This study included a total of 1,405 participants from the Huantai Children’s Cardiovascular Health Cohort who had at least two BMI measurements between 2017 and 2023. Group-based trajectory modeling was used to identify distinct BMI trajectories. Logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between these BMI trajectories and the development of elevated BP and elevated cIMT. Results The BMI trajectory patterns of participants from childhood to adolescence were categorized into three groups: low-and-increasing ( n = 473, 33.67%), medium-and-increasing ( n = 533, 37.94%) and high-and-increasing ( n = 399, 28.40%). Compared to the low-and-increasing group (systolic BP [SBP]: 110.16 mmHg, diastolic BP [DBP]: 60.59 mmHg, cIMT: 0.549 mm), the medium-and-increasing group had higher SBP (114.14 mmHg) and cIMT (0.567 mm), along with an increased risk of elevated BP (odds ratio [OR] 2.50, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.43–4.39) and elevated cIMT (OR 3.17, 95% CI 1.50–6.74) (all p &amp;lt; 0.05). Similarly, the high-and-increasing group exhibited higher SBP (122.85 mmHg), DBP (62.83 mmHg), and cIMT (0.595 mm), as well as an increased risk of elevated BP (OR 10.73, 95% CI 6.23–18.48) and cIMT (OR 18.91, 95% CI 9.19–38.89) (all p &amp;lt; 0.05). Conclusion Consistently elevated BMI from childhood to adolescence is closely associated with elevated BP and elevated cIMT during adolescence. Obesity prevention and screening in youth should be prioritized to reduce future cardiovascular disease risk.

To summarize the available knowledge on the effect of eating frequency and intermittent fasting to prevent and manage obesity. Eating schedule variability is associated with excess weight. Increasing eating frequency in those who eat three times a day or less does not lead to weight reduction. Intermittent fasting diets may enhance lipolysis, insulin sensitivity, adipose remodeling, and restore gut microbial diversity. Intermittent fasting diets appeared more effective than unrestricted diets and non-inferior to continuous energy restriction in producing weight loss. Intermittent fasting diets appeared more effective than unrestricted diets and non-inferior to continuous energy restriction in producing weight loss. Intermittent fasting may provide some additional benefits for lipid profiles, glucose control, and liver steatosis, but not for blood pressure. Possible benefits on gingival inflammation and detrimental effects on hair growth should warrant further investigation. Reduced eating frequency and intermittent fasting diets are effective lifestyle interventions for weight loss. The preference for intermittent fasting over continuous energy restriction should depend on the patient to maximize adherence.

Background: Depression, obesity, and brain tumours represent significant public health challenges individually, but recent evidence says these conditions may share overlapping biological/ physiological pathways, which could cause compounding disease burden and complicating clinical management. Obesity has been associated with chronic systemic inflammation, hormonal imbalances, and neurobiological changes that increase vulnerability to mood disorders and certain cancers, including brain tumours. Depression is highly prevalent among patients with brain tumours and affects their quality of life, treatment adherence, and survival outcomes. However, the bidirectional interactions among obesity, depression, and brain tumours remain poorly understood. Objective: This systematic review aimed to synthesize the existing evidence on the interrelationship between depression, obesity, and brain tumours, exploring their shared pathophysiological mechanisms, epidemiological links, and clinical implications. Methods: A systematic search of the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct, and PsycINFO databases was conducted for studies published between 2000 and 2025. Eligible studies included observational, experimental, and review articles that examined the association between depression, obesity, and brain tumours in adult populations. Quality assessment was performed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) checklist for observational studies, and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. Results and Discussion: A total of 35 studies met the inclusion criteria. Evidence suggests that obesity-related inflammatory markers, such as IL-6, TNF-α, and CRP, may contribute to the neuroinflammation implicated in both depressive symptoms and tumour progression. Furthermore, depression is both a psychological consequence of brain tumours and a potential prognostic factor for worse clinical outcomes. Few studies have explicitly explored the tripartite relationship, indicating a significant research gap. Addressing obesity, screening for depression, and understanding shared biological pathways can improve prevention, early intervention, and treatment outcomes for depression, obesity, and brain tumours. Conclusion: The available literature supports the interconnections among depression, obesity, and brain tumours, primarily through inflammatory and neuroendocrine pathways. However, integrated studies examining these three conditions concurrently are limited. Future research should prioritize longitudinal studies to clarify these relationships and inform multidisciplinary preventive and treatment strategies.