Advances in Research and Prevention of Overweight and Obesity in Youth

The growing epidemic of obesity starkly highlights the urgency in addressing this health crisis, particularly among infants, children, and adolescents. Obesity and overweight, typified by excessive fat accumulation, drastically augment the risk of several chronic conditions ranging from type 2 diabetes to heart disease, as well as affecting quality of life aspects such as mobility and sleep. The escalating prevalence over the past three decades underscores the need for effective prevention and treatment strategies, yet this remains a dynamically evolving area of research.

This Research Topic aims to amass a comprehensive collection of high-quality papers that explore the prevention and ongoing research into childhood and adolescent obesity. By emphasizing prevention as a cornerstone strategy, this topic seeks to integrate recent advances in understanding the biological, environmental, and societal contributors to obesity with practical, evidence-based interventions.

To gather further insights in this critical public health challenge, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Epidemiological trends in childhood and adolescent obesity.
- Novel interventions for preventing obesity in youth.
- The role of diet and physical activity in obesity management.
- Psychological comorbidities associated with pediatric obesity.
- Advances in pharmacological treatments targeting obesity in children and adolescents.

Manuscripts may include reviews, research papers, case series, case reports, and protocols for ongoing studies to refine research methodologies. Exploring real-world data and clinical practices will provide robust, actionable insights into mitigating this global health concern.

Keywords: obesity, overweight, clinical trial, prevention, research, bmi

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.