Health and Care Research Wales Evidence Centre review highlights factors associated with childhood obesity

Health and Care Research Wales Evidence Centre, in collaboration with Health Technology Wales, has conducted a review of research into the reasons why children aged five and under may become overweight or obese. 

Childhood obesity is a growing problem in Wales, with over one-quarter of children in Wales aged four-to-five overweight or obese. In 2023, nearly one in three children in Wales were overweight or obese by the time they started primary school.  

Children who are overweight or obese may experience health issues during childhood or adolescence. They are also more likely to be overweight or obese through to adulthood, which can also cause associated health problems.  However, a wide range of complex factors can influence childhood obesity, from biology to environment.  

The rapid review aimed to bring together evidence to identify factors that impact childhood obesity and how influential they are. 

The work will be used as part of the Welsh Government’s Well-being of Future Generations Act, to help inform the Healthy Weight: Health Wales strategy and delivery plans.  

The review found high-certainty evidence of the following factors in supporting children to have a healthier weight: 

• Helping women who are overweight, but thinking of or currently trying to become pregnant, to lose weight 

• Reducing rapid weight gain during the first 12 months of life 

• Providing children of working parents with opportunities to eat healthier foods and be more physically active. 

They also found moderate evidence around the following factors: 

• Promoting breastfeeding 

• Reducing rapid weight gain during the first 13 months of life 

• Monitoring children’s growth rate during the first two years of life 

• Promoting baby-led weaning 

• Reducing consumption of sugary drinks 

• Educating and supporting caregivers to provide healthier foods and opportunities for physical activity. 

Professor Adrian Edwards, Director of the Health and Care Research Wales Evidence Centre, said,

The Health and Care Research Wales Evidence Centre research teams work closely with the Welsh Government to provide an evidence base to improve health and social care policy and provision across Wales. This work was requested by the Welsh Government Public Health and Inequalities team, as part of the Wellbeing and Future Generations Act work, to help inform the Healthy Weight: Healthy Wales strategy and delivery plans.” 

Dr Susan Myles, Director, Health Technology Wales, said, “We are pleased to have taken part in this exciting project which provides a valuable insight into the factors associated with obesity in children under five. We look forward to continuing to work as a Collaborating Partner of the Health and Care Research Wales Evidence Centre, which aims to ensure that health and social care policies in Wales are based on the most up to date research available.”