Evaluated Childhood Obesity Prevention and Management Programs in Europe, 2015–2024: A Structured Narrative Review of Behavioral and Anthropometric Outcomes

Abstract

Background: This structured narrative review summarizes and critically appraises evaluated childhood obesity prevention programs implemented in European countries and published between 2015 and 2024. Methods: Systematic searches for PubMed, EBSCOhost, and Google Scholar, complemented by research registries, were conducted year-by-year and independently screened by two reviewers. Results: Five multinational/international programs were identified alongside multiple national initiatives delivered in family, school, community, healthcare, and digital settings. Overall, interventions consistently improved intermediate outcomes—such as selected dietary behaviors, physical activity participation, knowledge, and parental self-efficacy—more than anthropometric endpoints. Effects on BMI/BMI z-score or overweight/obesity prevalence were heterogeneous and frequently small or non-significant, especially for short-duration, single-setting educational interventions. More favorable anthropometric outcomes were commonly reported in long-term, population-scaled physical activity or community-based programs as well as in multidisciplinary healthcare-supported approaches; however, these strategies were typically resource-intensive and sometimes showed differential effectiveness across socioeconomic or cultural groups. Conclusions: The evidence indicates that single-setting or short-term interventions may improve selected behavioral outcomes but are generally insufficient to produce sustained effects on anthropometric measures without integration into broader, multi-level strategies. It is needed to integrate families, schools, communities, and health services with explicit attention to sustainability and equity. Technology-supported tools may strengthen reach and continuity when embedded within comprehensive prevention frameworks.