The imbalance of energy intake from food and energy expended through physical activities is the central physical problem most often studied in childhood obesity. This is essentially a question of individual and family behavior; it is therefore difficult to understand, measure, and change. In addition, less tangible factors also affect childhood obesity: for example, the child's mental health and sleep patterns. These are influenced by the home, school, and community environments. Children, adolescents, and parents/caretakers of infants and young children receive conflicting messages from society and media. For example, fewer opportunities for physical activities in school, increasing value placed on academic achievement, and media advertisement of unhealthy food choices all conflict with messages stressing obesity health risks.
The following discussion focuses on obesity prevention by addressing 4 central areas that scientific studies have shown may affect childhood obesity: nutrition, physical activity, mental health and mood, and sleep hygiene.