This project will identify commonly used obesity prevention programs that have limited effectiveness for obesity prevention and are thus a suboptimal use of limited public health resources. The specific aims are to: 1) Identify two commonly implemented childhood obesity prevention interventions targeting children ages 0-8 that may lack evidence for impact; 2) Conduct a systematic evidence review, using CHOICES methodology, to identify a) quantitative estimates, if they exist, for impact of each intervention on children’s obesity risk; and b) implementation costs; and 3) Estimate the population impact, costs to society, healthcare cost savings, reach, and impact on racial/ethnic disparities (if possible) of the two interventions from 2020-2030 using the CHOICES methodology, and compare to previously modeled interventions.
Related Research
August 2023
The societal costs and health impacts on obesity of BMI report cards in US schools
This study aimed to estimate the 10-year cost-effectiveness of school-based BMI report cards, a commonly implemented program for childhood obesity prevention in the US where student BMI is reported to parents/guardians by letter with nutrition and physical activity resources, for students in grades 3 to 7. A microsimulation model, using data inputs from evidence reviews MoreDecember 2025
From Policy to Plate: Implications of 2025 U.S. Federal Policy Changes on School Meals
School meals are a cornerstone of the United States’ nutrition safety net for children from low-income families, providing nearly 30 million lunches daily. However, recent U.S. policy actions may limit access to school meals for children who need them most. This commentary, published in the Nutrients Special Issue The Influence of School Meals on Children MoreDecember 2025