A Multi-dimensional Analysis of Childhood Obesity: Interplay of Genetics, Behavior and Environment

Abstract

This study aims, through empirical investigation, to systematically identify the key drivers of obesity among children under 14 years of age. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among [sample size] children and their primary caregivers in [study area]. Data were collected across five domains—genetic/physiological characteristics, dietary behaviour, physical activity, psychosocial factors, and external environments—by integrating questionnaires, anthropometric measurements, and selected objective indicators. The results demonstrate that paediatric obesity is produced by the confluence of multiple influences. Dietary behaviours (e.g., frequency of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and intake of energy-dense snacks) and a sedentary lifestyle (daily screen time) exhibited the strongest direct associations with adiposity. Household context—particularly parental feeding beliefs and overall domestic dietary practices—emerged as the pivotal intermediary through which these behaviours are shaped. Genetic susceptibility (proxied by parental obesity history) and insufficient sleep constituted an important background risk. Overall, the findings confirm that childhood obesity is nested within a “risk ecology” comprising proximal behaviours, family-level interactions, and distal environmental conditions. Effective interventions must therefore adopt an integrated strategy that couples individual behaviour modification with family-centred support and environmental restructuring as core components.