Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41784131›Full record

SynthesisObesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity2026

Effects of Family-Based Intervention for Childhood Obesity on Parental and Offspring Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Ying Zhang, Luojie Pang, Shenglan Yang, Jing Wu

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Obesity reviews : an official journal of the International Association for the Study of Obesity, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

4 authors.

Ying ZhangSchool of Nursing, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Luojie PangSchool of Nursing, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Shenglan YangSchool of Nursing, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
Jing WuSchool of Nursing, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2492-5118

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) 72474136
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectivesChildhood obesity is a global public health issue with strong familial and intergenerational transmission. However, existing syntheses often overlook the active role of parents and fail to assess outcomes beyond the child. This systematic review and meta-analysis specifically investigate the effects of family-based interventions, which position parents as active co-agents of change, on health outcomes for both children with obesity and their parents.

methodsA systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted. Six databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) targeting children with obesity and at least one family member. Primary outcomes were children's BMI z-score and parental BMI; secondary outcomes included other adiposity measures and dietary behaviors. Outcomes for both children and parents were synthesized. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on intervention characteristics. Risk of bias was assessed using RoB 2, and evidence certainty was evaluated using GRADE.

resultsTwenty RCTs with 1740 participants were included in the meta-analysis. The interventions demonstrated a significant reduction in children's BMI z-score. Additional benefits were observed for long-term BMI z-score and percentage of total body fat. The most effective interventions commonly integrate health education, behavioral strategies, and motivational support. Subgroup analyses indicated that interventions positioning parents as active co-participants, rather than mere supporters, yielded larger effects. However, no significant effects were found on parental BMI.

conclusionThis study demonstrates that family-based interventions can confer significant benefits for children with obesity. Their success hinges on strategically framing parents as active co-agents and integrating motivational strategies.

Indexed as

ParentsPediatric ObesityBody Mass IndexChildFamily SupportHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as Topicchildhood obesityfamily‐based interventionmeta‐analysis

Identifiers

PMID41784131
PMCPMC13551393

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
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Registered trials

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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.