Childhood Obesity: Epidemiology, Risk Factors, Prevention, and Emerging Treatment Strategies

Childhood obesity is a growing global public health concern influenced by genetic, environmental, behavioral, psychological, and socioeconomic factors. Increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods and increasingly sedentary lifestyles have contributed significantly to rising obesity rates among children and adolescents. Childhood obesity is associated with serious long-term health complications, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and psychological disorders. Current childhood obesity management emphasizes early identification and intensive lifestyle intervention through nutrition counseling, physical activity promotion, behavioral therapy, and family-based treatment. Recent advances in pharmacologic therapy, particularly glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, as well as bariatric surgery, have demonstrated meaningful improvements in body mass index and metabolic outcomes in adolescents with severe obesity. This review summarizes the epidemiology, risk factors, clinical consequences, prevention strategies, and emerging treatment approaches for childhood obesity.