Overweight and obesity in preschoolers: Overview of current treatment options

Abstract

Overweight and obesity present a burgeoning global health concern affecting both children and adults. Of particular alarm is the escalating prevalence among preschool-aged children, associated with a five-fold increased risk of persistent obesity and its attendant comorbidities in adulthood. Urgent intervention is thus imperative. Nevertheless, knowledge concerning treatment options for preschoolers remains limited. This study aims to provide a narrative overview of extant and potential treatment modalities for early childhood obesity. A review of randomized controlled trials and clinical studies emphasizes the crucial role of parents in the treatment paradigm. Several studies have delved into parent-support treatment programs, revealing a statistically significant reduction in body mass index (BMI) compared to conventional interventions. Notably, implementing a digital support system offering personalized data and feedback for home-based therapy has yielded a statistically significant decrease in BMI among preschoolers, suggesting its efficacy in fostering sustained therapeutic outcomes.