Nutritional exposures during pregnancy and the first two years of a child’s life influence growth and risk for obesity. Upstream interventions that involve policy, systems, and/or environmental approaches may support equitable nutrition and healthy growth early in life. Yet little is known about application of these interventions in clinical settings. This scoping review characterized the breadth, generalizability, and methodological rigor of nutrition-focused, upstream interventions for obesity prevention during the first 1,000 days in clinical settings. Eight databases were searched in November 2022 for policy, systems, and/or environmental approaches conducted during the first 1,000 days. Of the 73,969 records identified, 185 reports representing 126 studies were included. Studies frequently involved combinations of system (98%), environmental (56%), and/or individual (87%) approaches in prenatal care (35%), hospital (22%), or primary care (21%) settings. Over half (62%) were conducted with socially disadvantaged families. More studies reported positive effects on feeding practices (71%), child diet (70%), breastfeeding (67%), and maternal diet (62%), compared to child (31%) or maternal (48%) weight and growth outcomes. Results suggest the promise of scaling adoption of policy, systems, and/or environmental approaches that enhance standard clinical care by incorporating nutrition-focused elements to support healthy feeding behaviors and growth.
Published: October 2025
Journal: Science Direct
Authors: Luecking CT, Kracht CL, Ferrante MJ, Moding KJ, Kielb E, Rolke LJ, Wagner BE, Colella J, Speirs KE, Robinson C, Neshteruk CD
Keywords: Body mass index (BMI), Health Care, Healthy weight, Infant Feeding
Focus Areas: Diet Quality & Healthy Weight, Early Childhood
Resource Type: Journal Article
Age Group: Pregnant women, infants and toddlers (ages 0 to 2)
Related Research
October 2026
Cross-Sectional Evaluation of WIC Participation Status and Massachusetts Children’s Nutrition after the Cash-Value Benefit Increase
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) increased the Cash-Value Benefit (CVB) for fruits and vegetables in 2021. Although WIC participants reported increased purchasing, consumption, and variety of fruits and vegetables after the CVB increase, it is unknown whether this resulted in higher fruit and vegetable intake relative to nonparticipants. The MoreOctober 2026
An Electronic Health Record-Based Intervention to Facilitate Primary Care Referrals to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children: Retrospective Cohort Study
This study evaluated responses to an electronic health record (EHR)-embedded federal nutrition program (FNP) participation screening and WIC referral tool implemented within 8 clinics during well-child visits for children younger than 5 years of age. Structured EHR data from July 2020 to October 2023 were extracted to summarize screening, referral acceptance, WIC enrollment outcomes, and MoreSeptember 2026