Barriers and facilitators of childhood obesity prevention policies: A systematic review and meta-synthesis

OBJECTIVES: Childhood obesity is one of the worldwide considerable public health challenges and many factors can play a role in its management. Therefore, this article examined the facilitators and barriers of childhood obesity prevention (COP) policies. METHODS: This systematic review of qualitative studies was conducted via a search of the SCOPUS, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases between 1 January 2010 and 11 February 2022 and examined factors that influence the implementation of COP policies at a community approach. RESULTS: The parents' reluctance to engage in COP activities, lack of sufficient knowledge, and financial problems were the most reported barriers at the individual level. In addition, the beliefs about COP at the sociocultural level and limited funding and resources, time limitations in stakeholders at the implementation level, and lack of policy support at the structural level were the most frequently reported barriers. Further, effective communication between stakeholders and parents and school staff at the sociocultural level and flexibility of the intervention, delivery of healthy food programs in schools, low-cost and appropriate resources, and the availability of appropriate facilities are the most frequently reported facilitators in the structural level. CONCLUSION: Individual, sociocultural, and structural level-related barriers and facilitators influence the implementation of COP policies. Most of the barriers and facilitators in this systematic review were related to the structural level.