JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents has become a critical global public health issue, particularly in China, with significant increases observed over the past few decades. Despite regular surveillance for overweight and obesity in the past decades, there have been no consistent reports provided to parents, resulting in a significant under-recognition of this issue. Early intervention and enhanced family education are crucial to effectively addressing this growing problem.

Objective:

To evaluate the effectiveness of enhanced family education in reducing overweight and obesity among school-age children and adolescents.

Methods:

This study employs a stratified cluster randomized controlled trial design involving 40 schools from four cities in Guangdong Province, selected based on economic levels and overweight/obesity prevalence. Schools will be randomly assigned to intervention or control groups. The intervention group receives enhanced family education on obesity prevention, including health reports and educational materials, while the control group continues with regular practices. The intervention spans nine months, followed by a three-month follow-up. Data on body mass index (BMI) and other health indicators are collected at baseline and after 12 months to assess the intervention's effectiveness.

Results:

This trial has been registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) under the registration number ChiCTR2400091909 on November 5, 2024. Data collection is expected to be completed by December 2025, with study results anticipated to be published in 2026.

Conclusions:

This study protocol addresses the urgent need for effective interventions to combat the increasing prevalence of childhood and adolescence obesity in Guangdong Province. Given the significant under-recognition of the consistent reporting to parents, the proposed enhanced family education interventions aim to fill this gap by raising parental awareness and promoting healthier lifestyles among children and adolescents. If successful, this approach could significantly reduce the risk of overweight and obesity in Chinese populations, which account for approximately one-fifth of the world’s population. The findings will provide insights into the efficacy of family-centered interventions and underscore the importance of integrating routine parental reporting into existing surveillance programs. Clinical Trial: ChiCTR2400091909. Registered on 5 November 2024 (https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=239755).