Publications

Research outputs, reports, policy briefs and knowledge products from KIU scholars and partners.

2025 School of Pharmacy IDOSR JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL SCIENCES

Narrative Review of Public Health Campaigns against Obesity

Muhindo Edgar

Public health campaigns addressing obesity have evolved from traditional awareness models toward inclusive, data-driven, and technology-supported interventions. This narrative review explores emerging trends, ethical challenges, and future directions in obesity-related campaigns, focusing on stigmatization, inclusivity, technological innovation, community participation, and sustainability. Evidence shows that campaigns emphasizing body shape or personal responsibility often reinforce stigma and discrimination, undermining health outcomes. Conversely, body positivity and neutrality movements amplified by digital media promote acceptance, self-esteem, and participation. Ensuring accessibility and inclusion requires tailored messaging, equitable communication channels, and engagement of credible community-based organizations (CBOs) and community health workers (CHWs). Technological advances, including big data analytics, wearables, educational apps, and blockchain systems, enable precision targeting and safeguard privacy in campaign design. Community-driven and participatory approaches enhance responsiveness by integrating local contexts, values, and behaviors, improving engagement and sustainability. Integration within public health systems and policy frameworks strengthens longterm impact, while financial constraints particularly in low- and middle-income countries pose challenges to scale and continuity. Overall, effective obesity prevention demands stigma-free, community-centered, and data-informed campaigns that align behavioral, technological, and policy strategies to promote equitable and sustainable health outcomes.