Multi-component obesity prevention interventions
Multi-component obesity prevention interventions combine educational, environmental, and behavioral activities, and typically address both physical activity and nutrition. Often led by trained professionals, such interventions involve in-person meetings and offer opportunities for counseling, coaching, and support. Multi-component obesity prevention interventions frequently also include nutrition education, aerobic or strength training exercise sessions, training in behavioral techniques, and specific dietary prescriptions (CG-Obesity).
Expected Beneficial Outcomes (Rated)
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Increased physical activity
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Improved weight status
Other Potential Beneficial Outcomes
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Increased self-confidence
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Increased fruit & vegetable consumption
Evidence of Effectiveness
There is strong evidence that multi-component obesity prevention interventions increase physical activity (Kriemler S, Meyer U, Martin E, et al. Effect of school-based interventions on physical activity and fitness in children and adolescents: A review of reviews and systematic update. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2011;45(11):923-30.
Link to original source (journal subscription may be required for access)Kriemler 2011, Katz D, O’Connell M, Njike V, Yeh M-C, Nawaz H. Strategies for the prevention and control of obesity in the school setting: Systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Obesity. 2008;32(12):1780-9.
Link to original source (journal subscription may be required for access)Katz 2008, Kamath 2008, Waters E, de Silva-Sanigorski A, Burford BJ, et al. Interventions for preventing obesity in children. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2011;(12):CD001871.
Link to original source (journal subscription may be required for access)Cochrane-Waters 2011) and weight loss for children and adolescents (Murray M, Dordevic AL, Bonham MP. Systematic review and meta-analysis: The impact of multicomponent weight management interventions on self-esteem in overweight and obese adolescents. Journal of Pediatric Psychology. 2017;42(4):379-394.
Link to original source (journal subscription may be required for access)Murray 2017, Wang Y, Cai L, Wu Y, et al. What childhood obesity prevention programmes work? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Obesity Reviews. 2015;16(7):547-565.
Link to original source (journal subscription may be required for access)Wang 2015b, Brown 2009, De Bourdeaudhuij I, Van Cauwenberghe E, Spittaels H, et al. School-based interventions promoting both physical activity and healthy eating in Europe: A systematic review within the HOPE project. Obesity Reviews. 2011;12(3):205-16.
Link to original source (journal subscription may be required for access)De Bourdeaudhuij 2011, Katz D, O’Connell M, Njike V, Yeh M-C, Nawaz H. Strategies for the prevention and control of obesity in the school setting: Systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Obesity. 2008;32(12):1780-9.
Link to original source (journal subscription may be required for access)Katz 2008, Kelly 2008, Seo D-C, Sa J. A meta-analysis of obesity interventions among US minority children. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2010;46(4):309-23.
Link to original source (journal subscription may be required for access)Seo 2010). Multi-component interventions also modestly improve weight status among adults (Stephens SK, Cobiac LJ, Veerman JL. Improving diet and physical activity to reduce population prevalence of overweight and obesity: An overview of current evidence. Preventive Medicine. 2014;62:167-178.
Link to original source (journal subscription may be required for access)Stephens 2014), including overweight or obese adults (Johns 2014) and adults with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes (CG-Physical activity). Additional evidence is needed to confirm long-term effects (Stephens SK, Cobiac LJ, Veerman JL. Improving diet and physical activity to reduce population prevalence of overweight and obesity: An overview of current evidence. Preventive Medicine. 2014;62:167-178.
Link to original source (journal subscription may be required for access)Stephens 2014).
In general, multi-component interventions are more effective than single component efforts, especially over longer durations (Stephens SK, Cobiac LJ, Veerman JL. Improving diet and physical activity to reduce population prevalence of overweight and obesity: An overview of current evidence. Preventive Medicine. 2014;62:167-178.
Link to original source (journal subscription may be required for access)Stephens 2014, Johns 2014, Kriemler S, Meyer U, Martin E, et al. Effect of school-based interventions on physical activity and fitness in children and adolescents: A review of reviews and systematic update. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2011;45(11):923-30.
Link to original source (journal subscription may be required for access)Kriemler 2011, De Bourdeaudhuij I, Van Cauwenberghe E, Spittaels H, et al. School-based interventions promoting both physical activity and healthy eating in Europe: A systematic review within the HOPE project. Obesity Reviews. 2011;12(3):205-16.
Link to original source (journal subscription may be required for access)De Bourdeaudhuij 2011, Seo D-C, Sa J. A meta-analysis of obesity interventions among US minority children. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2010;46(4):309-23.
Link to original source (journal subscription may be required for access)Seo 2010, Kamath 2008). Longer term studies show greater weight loss among participants in multi-component interventions that address nutrition and physical activity than among participants in nutrition-only interventions; however, in the short-term, both interventions appear to have similar benefits (Johns 2014).
Multi-component interventions increase fruit and vegetable intake among younger children (Van Cauwenberghe 2012). Such interventions have demonstrated positive effects on child and adolescent weight status (Kelly 2008, Brown 2009, Katz D, O’Connell M, Njike V, Yeh M-C, Nawaz H. Strategies for the prevention and control of obesity in the school setting: Systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Obesity. 2008;32(12):1780-9.
Link to original source (journal subscription may be required for access)Katz 2008), possibly over the long-term (Brown 2009, Katz D, O’Connell M, Njike V, Yeh M-C, Nawaz H. Strategies for the prevention and control of obesity in the school setting: Systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Obesity. 2008;32(12):1780-9.
Link to original source (journal subscription may be required for access)Katz 2008). Multi-component interventions delivered in schools that include both home and community components have been shown to reduce body mass index (BMI) and improve weight status for children; interventions with only a home or community component and interventions delivered in community settings can also improve BMI and weight status (Wang Y, Cai L, Wu Y, et al. What childhood obesity prevention programmes work? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Obesity Reviews. 2015;16(7):547-565.
Link to original source (journal subscription may be required for access)Wang 2015b). Multi-component interventions with a specific focus on self-esteem can improve self-esteem for overweight or obese adolescents; interventions without such a focus improve weight status but not self-esteem (Murray M, Dordevic AL, Bonham MP. Systematic review and meta-analysis: The impact of multicomponent weight management interventions on self-esteem in overweight and obese adolescents. Journal of Pediatric Psychology. 2017;42(4):379-394.
Link to original source (journal subscription may be required for access)Murray 2017). Workplace-based multi-component interventions have been shown to improve weight status and self-confidence among participating employees (CG-Obesity, Lombard 2009).
Interventions that include culturally tailored or lifestyle specific components have been shown to be most effective for minority students (Seo D-C, Sa J. A meta-analysis of obesity interventions among US minority children. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2010;46(4):309-23.
Link to original source (journal subscription may be required for access)Seo 2010). Multi-component interventions that rely primarily on providing information for behavior change may be less successful among populations with lower socio-economic status than interventions that include structural changes to the environment and community-based strategies (Beauchamp A, Backholer K, Magliano D, Peeters A. The effect of obesity prevention interventions according to socioeconomic position: A systematic review. Obesity Reviews. 2014;15(7):541-554.
Link to original source (journal subscription may be required for access)Beauchamp 2014).
Costs for multi-component obesity prevention programs vary based on several factors, including setting, duration, meeting structure, and number of sessions. Multi-component interventions that address both nutrition and physical activity for people with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes have been shown to be cost-effective (CG-Physical activity).
Impact on Disparities
No impact on disparities likely
Implementation Examples
Multi-component interventions to prevent obesity are implemented throughout the country. For example, the New York State Department of Health’s Eat Well Play Hard initiative is an example of a successful multi-component obesity prevention intervention (NYS DOH-EWPH). The 5-2-1-0 obesity prevention program is a multi-component intervention for improving diet, increasing physical activity, and reducing screen time; the program was designed for children and has been expanded to include adults. The 5-2-1-0 program encourages developing daily habits that include 5 servings of fruits and vegetables, 2 hours or less of screen time, 1 hour or more of physical activity, 0 sugary drinks, and increased water consumption. It started in Maine (MMC-5210) and has expanded to cities and states across the country, including Florida (FL DOH-5210); Kentucky (KY DPH-5210); New Hampshire (FHC-5210); Baton Rouge, LA (MHCI-5210 plus 10); Chesterfield County, VA (COACH-5210 everyday); and Palo Alto, CA (PAMF-5210 resources).
The B’More Fit initiative in Baltimore provides women with children who receive public assistance licensed childcare and lessons for children about fitness and eating healthy, while mothers participate in exercise classes, group meetings, and nutrition and stress management classes that are offered in English or Spanish (BHB-B’More Fit).
Niños Sanos, Familia Sana (Healthy Children, Healthy Family) is a five year effort that engages Mexican-origin farmworker families using culturally tailored messages, fruit and vegetable incentives, supportive environments, parenting skill classes, and nutrition and physical activity education and opportunities (Kaiser 2015).
Implementation Resources
NYS DOH-EWPH - New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH). Eat well play hard (EWPH).
CC-WOTN resources - Community Commons (CC). The Weight of the Nation (WOTN) screening to action resources: Quickstart guides.
ChangeLab-OPR - ChangeLab Solutions. Why adopt an obesity prevention resolution (OPR)? A fact sheet about our model resolution.
ChangeLab-Healthy communities toolkit - ChangeLab Solutions. How to create and implement healthy general plans: A toolkit for building healthy, vibrant communities.
ChangeLab-Planning guide - ChangeLab Solutions. A roadmap for healthier general plans: A guide & infographic about the planning process.
Citations - Evidence
* Journal subscription may be required for access.
CG-Physical activity - The Guide to Community Preventive Services (The Community Guide). Physical activity.
Brown 2009 - Brown T, Summerbell C. Systematic review of school-based interventions that focus on changing dietary intake and physical activity levels to prevent childhood obesity: An update to the obesity guidance produced by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Obesity Reviews. 2009;10(1):110-41.
De Bourdeaudhuij 2011* - De Bourdeaudhuij I, Van Cauwenberghe E, Spittaels H, et al. School-based interventions promoting both physical activity and healthy eating in Europe: A systematic review within the HOPE project. Obesity Reviews. 2011;12(3):205-16.
Kamath 2008 - Kamath CC, Vickers KS, Ehrlich A, et al. Behavioral interventions to prevent childhood obesity: A systematic review and meta-analyses of randomized trials. Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2008;93(12):4606-15.
Katz 2008* - Katz D, O’Connell M, Njike V, Yeh M-C, Nawaz H. Strategies for the prevention and control of obesity in the school setting: Systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Obesity. 2008;32(12):1780-9.
Kelly 2008 - Kelly SA, Melnyk BM. Systematic review of multicomponent interventions with overweight middle adolescents: Implications for clinical practice and research. Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing. 2008;5(3):113-35.
Kriemler 2011* - Kriemler S, Meyer U, Martin E, et al. Effect of school-based interventions on physical activity and fitness in children and adolescents: A review of reviews and systematic update. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 2011;45(11):923-30.
Lombard 2009 - Lombard CB, Deeks AA, Teede HJ. A systematic review of interventions aimed at the prevention of weight gain in adults. Public Health Nutrition. 2009;12(11):2236-46.
Seo 2010* - Seo D-C, Sa J. A meta-analysis of obesity interventions among US minority children. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2010;46(4):309-23.
Van Cauwenberghe 2012 - Van Cauwenberghe E, Maes L, Spittaels H, et al. Effectiveness of school-based interventions in Europe to promote healthy nutrition in children and adolescents: Systematic review of published and “grey” literature. British Journal of Nutrition. 2010;103(6):781-97.
Cochrane-Waters 2011* - Waters E, de Silva-Sanigorski A, Burford BJ, et al. Interventions for preventing obesity in children. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2011;(12):CD001871.
CG-Obesity - The Guide to Community Preventive Services (The Community Guide). Obesity.
Stephens 2014* - Stephens SK, Cobiac LJ, Veerman JL. Improving diet and physical activity to reduce population prevalence of overweight and obesity: An overview of current evidence. Preventive Medicine. 2014;62:167-178.
Johns 2014 - Johns DJ, Hartmann-Boyce J, Jebb SA, Aveyard P. Diet or exercise interventions vs combined behavioral weight management programs: A systematic review and meta-analysis of direct comparisons. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 2014;114(10):1557-1568.
Beauchamp 2014* - Beauchamp A, Backholer K, Magliano D, Peeters A. The effect of obesity prevention interventions according to socioeconomic position: A systematic review. Obesity Reviews. 2014;15(7):541-554.
Murray 2017* - Murray M, Dordevic AL, Bonham MP. Systematic review and meta-analysis: The impact of multicomponent weight management interventions on self-esteem in overweight and obese adolescents. Journal of Pediatric Psychology. 2017;42(4):379-394.
Wang 2015b* - Wang Y, Cai L, Wu Y, et al. What childhood obesity prevention programmes work? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Obesity Reviews. 2015;16(7):547-565.
Citations - Implementation Examples
* Journal subscription may be required for access.
NYS DOH-EWPH - New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH). Eat well play hard (EWPH).
MMC-5210 - Maine Medical Center (MMC), Healthy Maine Partnerships (HMP). 5-2-1-0 Let's go!
PAMF-5210 resources - Sutter Health Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF). 5-2-1-0 Resources.
FHC-5210 - Foundation for Healthy Communities (FHC). 5-2-1-0 Healthy NH.
FL DOH-5210 - Florida Department of Health (FL DOH), FloridaHealth Lee County. The 5-2-1-0 plan for a healthier active lifestyle.
KY DPH-5210 - Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services Department for Public Health (KY DPH). 5-2-1-0: Kentucky has the prescription for significantly reducing childhood obesity.
MHCI-5210 plus 10 - Mayor's Healthy City Initiative (MHCI). Healthy Baton Rouge: 5-2-1-0+10: Numbers for your children's health!
COACH-5210 everyday - Chesterfield County's Coalition for Active Children (COACH). 5-2-1-0 Everyday!
Kaiser 2015 - Kaiser L, Martinez J, Horowitz M, et al. Adaptation of a culturally relevant nutrition and physical activity program for low-income, Mexican-origin parents with young children. Preventing Chronic Disease. 2015;12:140591.
BHB-B’More Fit - B’More for Healthy Babies (BHB), Family League of Baltimore, Baltimore City Health Department, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. Our initiatives: B’More Fit.
Date Last Updated
- Scientifically Supported: Strategies with this rating are most likely to make a difference. These strategies have been tested in many robust studies with consistently positive results.
- Some Evidence: Strategies with this rating are likely to work, but further research is needed to confirm effects. These strategies have been tested more than once and results trend positive overall.
- Expert Opinion: Strategies with this rating are recommended by credible, impartial experts but have limited research documenting effects; further research, often with stronger designs, is needed to confirm effects.
- Insufficient Evidence: Strategies with this rating have limited research documenting effects. These strategies need further research, often with stronger designs, to confirm effects.
- Mixed Evidence: Strategies with this rating have been tested more than once and results are inconsistent or trend negative; further research is needed to confirm effects.
- Evidence of Ineffectiveness: Strategies with this rating are not good investments. These strategies have been tested in many robust studies with consistently negative and sometimes harmful results.