Success rates of pre-pregnancy and gestational obesity interventions in preventing childhood obesity: a comprehensive review

Dina Fawzy; Shaymaa Elsayed; Ashraf Soliman; Ahmed Elawwa; Fawzia Alyafei; Nada Alaaraj; Noor Hamed

doi:10.1530/endoabs.110.EP983

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Endocrine Abstracts (2025) 110 EP983 | DOI: 10.1530/endoabs.110.EP983

ECEESPE2025 ePoster Presentations Metabolism, Nutrition and Obesity (164 abstracts)

Success rates of pre-pregnancy and gestational obesity interventions in preventing childhood obesity: a comprehensive review

Dina Fawzy ¹ , Shaymaa Elsayed ¹ , Ashraf Soliman ² , Ahmed Elawwa ¹ , Fawzia Alyafei ² , Nada Alaaraj ² & Noor Hamed ²

Author affiliations

¹Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology Unit, Alexandria University, Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology Uni, Alexandria, Egypt; ²Department of Pediatrics, Hamad General Hospital, Doha, Qatar

JOINT2015

Background: Childhood obesity is a global epidemic with roots in maternal health during and before pregnancy. Interventions targeting pre-pregnancy obesity, gestational weight gain (GWG), and related maternal factors have been explored to mitigate risks and break the intergenerational cycle of obesity.

Objective: To review evidence on the success rates and benefits of interventions addressing pre-pregnancy and gestational obesity in preventing childhood obesity, focusing on their outcomes and effectiveness.

Methods: A review of 20 studies (2000–2024) including randomized controlled trials, observational studies, and systematic reviews was conducted. These studies examined lifestyle, behavioral, and system-level interventions during the prepregnancy, pregnancy, and postpartum periods. Success rates were calculated based on study outcomes.

Results: Lifestyle Interventions: Achieved an average success rate of 65%, effectively reducing GWG, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and improving maternal metabolic health. Examples include the RADIEL Study (728 women) and the Maternal Obesity Management (MOM) Trial (60 women). Behavioral and mHealth Interventions: Demonstrated an average success rate of 60%, promoting healthy behaviors and improving glucose tolerance during pregnancy. The VACOPP study (185 participants) and the “mami-educ” mHealth program showed promising outcomes. Early-Life Interventions: Multifactorial strategies during the first 1,000 days had an average success rate of 45%, mitigating childhood obesity risks through integrated care. However, these interventions required sustained postpartum support for long-term effectiveness. Childhood Obesity Prevention: Interventions focusing on both prenatal and early-life factors showed a success rate of 40% in reducing childhood obesity prevalence, highlighting the need for continuous care.

Conclusions: Interventions targeting maternal prepregnancy and gestational health demonstrate moderate to high success rates, with the greatest effectiveness observed in structured lifestyle programs. Sustained efforts into the postpartum period and scalable, personalized interventions are critical for long-term success in reducing childhood obesity.