Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41161836›Full record

SynthesisBMJ open2025

Impacts of climate change on childhood obesity: an updated systematic literature review.

Mingxin Guo, Li Ming Wen, Mu Li, Hong Jiang, Haidong Kan, Gengsheng He, Penny Farrell, Ying Zhang

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMJ open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Mingxin GuoSchool of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0007-2462-7456
Li Ming WenSchool of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1381-4022
Mu LiSchool of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Hong JiangSchool of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2810-8000
Haidong KanSchool of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
Gengsheng HeSchool of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
Penny FarrellSchool of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Ying ZhangSchool of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia ying.zhang@sydney.edu.au.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThe 2019 Lancet Commission report introduced the concept of a 'syndemic', emphasising the complex interplay between malnutrition, obesity and climate change. This updated systematic review aimed to synthesise evidence after 2019 on climate change and childhood obesity.

designSystematic literature review using Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. DATA SOURCES: Four English databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus and CINAHL) and four Chinese databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, CQVIP and SinoMed), covering publications from 1 January 2019 to 20 August 2024. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES: We included studies examining the impact of climate-related and weather-related exposures on obesity-related outcomes among children aged 2-12 years; quantitative and qualitative studies exploring their interrelationships. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Two independent reviewers used standardised methods to search, screen and code included studies. Risk of bias (RoB) was assessed using the RoB Rating Tool for Human and Animal Studies. Findings were summarised and synthesised with key characteristics, including sociodemographic factors, exposure indicators, metrics of obesity, analytic methods, covariates, key associations and limitations.

resultsOf the 3007 records, 16 studies met the inclusion criteria. The findings suggest that climate-related factors, including natural disasters, rainy and wet seasons, longer daylight hours, extreme cold and rising temperatures, may be associated with increased risks of childhood overweight and obesity. However, the results remain inconsistent, varying across genders and locations.

conclusionThe review highlights the complex relationships between climate change and childhood obesity. Further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms and inform the development of climate adaptation strategies to reduce childhood obesity. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42024560247.

Indexed as

Climate ChangePediatric ObesityChildChild, PreschoolHumansClimate ChangePUBLIC HEALTHSystematic Review

Identifiers

PMID41161836
PMCPMC12574412

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.