A literature review of multimodal interventions for improving health behaviors in obese upper elementary school students

Recent studies emphasize that behavioral change is a key strategy in managing childhood obesity, stressing the importance of improving healthy behaviors rather than focusing solely on weight loss. This study aimed to analyze research trends in multimodal interventions targeting the improvement of health behaviors in obese upper elementary school children. A systematic literature review was conducted on studies published in Korean academic journals from 2005 to 2025. The analysis focused on intervention components, delivery methods, and outcome variables. The results showed that multimodal interventions generally integrate nutrition education, physical activity, and behavioral strategies, which leads to improvements in self-efficacy and health behaviors, particularly dietary habits and physical activity. These interventions have been proven effective in improving health behaviors. Future research needs to develop more systematic intervention designs and comprehensive evaluation frameworks to enhance long-term effectiveness.