Childhood obesity interventions among Latinos residing in the US-Mexico border: a systematic review and meta-analysis of obesity outcomes.

Abstract

Objective: The United States and Mexico have similarly high childhood obesity trends, especially among underserved populations and communities living in the US-Mexico border region. To date, limited research has compared childhood obesity prevention interventions in both US and Mexico border states. This systematic literature review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy of childhood obesity interventions on obesity outcomes among Hispanic/Latino children residing in US-Mexico border states.

Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted using multiple US and Mexico-based databases through February 2026. The search focused on prospective randomized controlled trials or quasi-experimental studies examining the effect of behavioral interventions on preventing childhood obesity in children aged 3-12 years residing in the US or Mexico border states. Random-effects models were applied using the inverse-variance weight method to assess intervention effects on body mass index (BMI), BMI z-scores, BMI percentile, waist circumference, and body fat percentage. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses were conducted to assess moderators of intervention efficacy based on parental involvement, country, border region, intervention target level, and intervention duration.

Results: A total of 7,759 studies were initially identified, and 90 studies met the inclusion criteria for full extraction and analysis. Of the 90 included studies, 79% were conducted in US border states and 60% were quasi experimental studies. Meta-analyses demonstrated no significant improvements in obesity outcomes across the studies. In quasi-experimental studies with a control group, interventions that included parental involvement demonstrated no significant changes in BMI z-scores (d = -0.01; 95% CI, -0.12 to 1.26), whereas interventions without parental involvement demonstrated moderate increases in BMI z-scores (d = 0.67; 95% CI, 0.03 to 1.31).

Conclusions: Childhood obesity prevention interventions conducted in US-Mexico border states or within the border region were not associated with improvements in obesity outcomes, regardless of measure or study design. However, parental involvement may play a role in preventing substantial increases in BMI. Future research should examine intervention effects on obesity-related biomarkers, physical fitness, and dietary outcomes, which may provide more sensitive indicators of efficacy.

Clinical trial registration number: International Platform of Registered Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocols (INPLASY202440046, doi: 10.37766/inplasy2024.4.0046).