"Whole-of-Community" Obesity Prevention: A Review of Challenges and Opportunities in Multilevel, Multicomponent Interventions

Abstract

The causes of obesity worldwide are complex and multilevel, including changing food environments, physical activity levels, policies, and food production systems. This intricate context requires multilevel and multicomponent (MLMC) interventions to improve health outcomes. We conducted a literature review of MLMC interventions for obesity prevention and mitigation; 14 studies meeting search criteria were identified. We found examples of successes in preventing obesity, reducing overweight, improving healthful behaviors, and enhancing some psychosocial indicators. Of eight studies that reported health and behavioral results, five showed no significant impact and three showed reductions in obesity. Four studies showed significant improvement in dietary behavior, and five reported significant desirable effects in physical activity or screen time. Five studies reported psychosocial impacts, and three of these showed significant improvements. MLMC approaches show promising results, particularly when they are able to integrate components at the policy, community, and interpersonal levels.

Keywords: Adult; Child; Community-based interventions; Health behavior; Health promotion; Lifestyle; Minority populations; Multicomponent; Multilevel; Obesity; Prevention; Research design; Review.

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest Ella Ewart-Pierce, María José Mejía Ruiz, and Joel Gittelsohn declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1

Literature search procedures to identify multilevel, multicomponent obesity prevention and control studies