Abstract: Scientific methods can broaden the scope of social work service and promote its sustainable development. The close relationship of soft matter with our daily life sets up a bridge between soft matter science and social work. The recent study of childhood obesity reveals its close correlation with the children’s bad dietary habits formed at their early life with excessive consumption of sugar overloaded in soft drinks and juices. The difficulty in weight control lies in how to achieve energy balance of the body when the physiology of the body is at the socalled energy expenditure threshold value because of less physical activity undertaken. The functional foods might provide an effective tool for weight control. The current main task of social work service is to progress from the publicrescue service towards multilevel specialization and professionalization. The research and development of soft matter will further the scientific basis for social work and become a catalyst for its sustainable development.

Key words: social work, soft matter, child obesity, habit