Evidence mapPaperPMID 40537439Full record

SynthesisPediatric obesity2025

The impact of community-based childhood obesity prevention interventions in Australia by socio-economic position: An individual participant data meta-analysis.

Jane Jacobs, Kathryn Backholer, Steven Allender, Vicki Brown, Liliana Orellana, Rachel Novotny, Luke Wolfenden, Marj Moodie, Melanie Nichols

Abstract readMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Pediatric obesity, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Jane JacobsDeakin University, Institute for Health Transformation, Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Geelong, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3722-9672
Kathryn BackholerDeakin University, Institute for Health Transformation, Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Geelong, Australia.
Steven AllenderDeakin University, Institute for Health Transformation, Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Geelong, Australia.
Vicki BrownDeakin University, Institute for Health Transformation, Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Geelong, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2891-9476
Liliana OrellanaDeakin University, Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Health, Geelong, Australia.
Rachel NovotnyDepartment of Human Nutrition, Food and Animal Sciences, University of Hawaii at Manoa, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.
Luke WolfendenSchool of Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.
Marj MoodieDeakin University, Institute for Health Transformation, Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Geelong, Australia.
Melanie NicholsDeakin University, Institute for Health Transformation, Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Geelong, Australia.

Funding

Selenium Metabolism in the Heart: Impact of High Fructose and Low SeleniumP20GM139753 · NIGMS · UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA · 2022 to 2025
$7.0M
The Hawaii Advanced Training in Artificial Intelligence for Precision Nutrition Science Research (AIPrN)T32DK137523 · UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA · 2025 to 2025
$459k
National Health and Medical Research Council GNT2002334NIDDK NIH HHS T32 DK137523NIGMS NIH HHS P20 GM139753NIH HHS 1P20GM139753-01A1NIH HHS T32DK137523U.S. Department of Agriculture 2021-68012-35899Wellcome Trust 106716
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionCommunity-based interventions (CBIs) to prevent childhood obesity show promise in reducing body mass index z-scores (zBMI). Assessing whether this approach produces equitable outcomes across socio-economic sub-groups is typically limited by inadequate sample size. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of CBIs on zBMI and weight-related behaviours by socio-economic position (SEP).

methodsIndividual participant data meta-analysis using seven Australian childhood obesity prevention CBIs conducted between 2003 and 2022. Trials used consistent intervention approaches, objectively measured height and weight, and self- or parent-reported behaviours, and lasted 2-4 years. Area-level SEP was estimated using Australian Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage tertiles based on home or school postcodes. Multi-level linear and logistic models estimated the intervention effect on zBMI and behaviours across SEP levels.

resultsWhile zBMI scores increased across all groups, the increase was significantly greater in control compared to intervention students (difference: -0.036 [95%CI -0.065, -0.007]), among the 25 346 observations analysed. The effect of CBIs was greater in low compared to high SEP students (intervention effect difference = -0.10 [95%CI -0.18, -0.02]). DISCUSSION: Obesity prevention CBIs may have greater impacts among children from low SEP areas, potentially contributing to reducing health inequities. Further research is needed to understand barriers to improving weight-related behaviours across socio-economic groups.

Indexed as

Community Health ServicesPediatric ObesityAustraliaBody Mass IndexChildFemaleHumansMaleSocioeconomic Factorschildhood obesitycommunity‐based interventionsdietary intakephysical activitysocio‐economic position

Identifiers

PMID40537439
PMCPMC12414578

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.