Prevalence and risk factors associated with childhood obesity: systematic review

Abstract

Introduction. Childhood obesity reflects complex interactions of genetic, environmental, social, and behavioral factors, together with nutritional components and food consumption patterns, becoming a serious health problem during the last decades. Objective. To review the scientific evidence on the prevalence and risk factors associated with childhood obesity. Methodology. A systematic review of the literature was carried out in the following databases: Pubmed, Scopus, and Web of Science, by combining keywords which allowed the selection of articles in spanish and english language between the years of publication 2017 to 2021. Results. The prevalence of childhood obesity when analyzing the 17 articles was 19.6%. Among the associated risk factors, having a family history of obesity, inherited habits, social environment, poor eating habits, spending a lot of time in front of electronic devices, sedentary lifestyle, stress, and family dysfunction were identified. Conclusion. Family history, psychological, social and lifestyle factors play an important role in childhood obesity and are more likely to develop non-communicable diseases.