NCT07616232Recruiting
School and Family-Based Obesity Prevention in Pakistani Primary School Children
School and Family-Based Multifaceted Intervention Program for Preventing Obesity in Primary School Children in Pakistan: A Cluster Randomized Trial
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 2 Jun 2026
Brief summary (registry, in English)
Childhood obesity is increasing rapidly in Pakistan, but there are no large, high-quality studies testing ways to prevent it in schools. This study aims to find out if a 9-month program involving health education, daily physical activity, parent workshops, and regular feedback via WhatsApp or SMS can reduce the number of primary school children who are overweight or obese. The study is a cluster randomized controlled trial. A total of 26 primary schools in three cities of Punjab (Lahore, Sahiwal, Bahawalnagar) will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group (13 schools) or the control group (13 schools). Children in grades 3, 4, and 5 (aged 6-12 years) will take part. In the intervention schools, children will receive 18 health education sessions, daily 45 minutes of physical activity, and monthly weight and height checks. Parents will attend three workshops and receive weekly messages and monthly feedback on their child's progress via WhatsApp or SMS. The control schools will continue their usual activities and receive the intervention materials after the study ends. The main outcome is the change in the proportion of children who are overweight or obese from the start of the study to 9 months later. Secondary outcomes include changes in BMI z-score, waist circumference, physical activity, eating habits, and parents' knowledge. A follow-up assessment at 12 months will check if any benefits last. Recruitment of schools and children began on January 8, 2026. This is the first cluster randomized trial of its kind in Pakistan. The results will help inform childhood obesity prevention policies in low- and middle-income countries.
- Status (registry)
- Recruiting
- Study type
- Interventional
- Enrollment
- 2340 (estimated)
- First submitted
- 23 May 2026
- Start date
- 8 Dec 2025
- Primary completion date
- 8 Sept 2026
- Lead sponsor
- Central South University
- Diseases
- Obesity
- NCT number
- NCT07616232
What you commit to
- Study type: Interventional
- Planned participants: 2340
- From 8 Dec 2025 to the primary completion date, 8 Sept 2026
- 1 site in 1 country
- Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them
Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.
Who cannot take part
Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.
Prior treatment
- Weight loss by vomiting or taking drugs during the past three months
Other illness
- Medical history of heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, tuberculosis, asthma, hepatitis, or nephritis
- Obesity caused by endocrine diseases or side effects of drugs
Other
- Abnormal physical development (e.g., dwarfism, gigantism)
- Physical deformity (e.g., severe scoliosis, pectus carinatum, limp, obvious O-leg or X-leg)
- Inability to participate in school sport activities
- Participation in another obesity prevention or treatment program
- For schools: planned relocation or cancellation within the next two years
Who the study is looking for
- Children aged 6-12 years enrolled in grades 3, 4, or 5 of selected primary schools in Lahore, Sahiwal, or Bahawalnagar, Pakistan
- Written informed consent provided by parent or primary caregiver
- Child assent obtained
- Children without any medical conditions that prevent participation in physical activities
Age in the registry: 6 years to 12 years · Sex: All · Accepts healthy volunteers
Sites (1)
Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.
| Site | City | Country | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selected Primary Schools in Lahore, Sahiwal, and Bahawalnagar, Punjab, Pakistan Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Lahore | Pakistan | Recruiting |
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.