Encouraging children to eat fruit and vegetables is not enough to prevent obesity developing, according to British researchers.
The researchers say there is little evidence that "narrow interventions" achieve long-term change in lifestyle and weight management.
They say their findings are important as 31% of boys and 28% of girls over the age of two are overweight or obese.
The university has highlighted the research as it prepares to host a major international conference on urban health.
The researchers have published their findings in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.
Fourth year medical student Michael Bourke worked on the study.
He said: “We need to take a holistic approach and target behaviour change in multiple aspects of children’s lifestyles and their surroundings, including nutritional education, parental support and physical activity.”
Lecturer Dr Paula Whittaker added: "We found narrow interventions focusing on single aspects of behaviour are unlikely to achieve long-term change."
The director of the Manchester Urban Collaboration on Health Dr Arpana Verma said changing eating habits remained a key part of efforts to tackle obesity.
Dr Verma said: “Changes in eating habits such as increased consumption of sugar sweetened beverages and high-fat foods accompanied by a decreased consumption of fruit and vegetables are associated with an increasing number of overweight children.
“Targeting children, particularly overweight children, with nutritional education is important as it helps children form healthier long-term eating habits.”
Are dietary interventions effective at increasing fruit and vegetable consumption among overweight children? A systematic review. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health January 2014 [abstract]
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