Abstract

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.