Progress 04/01/10 to 08/31/13
Outputs
Target Audience: The target audience served over the 3 year grant consisted of 28 childcare centers serving 1444 parent, 1215 children and, 180 teachers. The health education intervention was conducted with 12 centers and the safety program was conducted with the 16 control centers. In year one, 10 teacher trainings were conducted at each center and 10 parent trainings. In years 2 and 3, 4 booster session with conducted with teachers and 4 booster sessions were conducted with parents trainings. The population demographics consisted of 60% percent of children were Hispanic, 15% Haitian, 12% non-Hispanic Black, and 2% Non-Hispanic White. There was diversity within the Hispanic population with 31% from Central American countries, Cuban (15%), Mexican (10%). The majority of caregivers were born outside of the US (71%). 100% of the children and families served with low-income. In addition, various regions of Miami-Dade County were represented including 70% urban and 30% rural. Approximately 30% of the population spoke Spanish as the first language and thus interviews were conducted in their native language. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? The Healthy Caregivers-Healthy Children program provided teacher and parent trainings to 28 childcare centers. Intervention centers received 8 trainings in year 1, 4 trainings in year 2 and 4 trainings in year 3 all related to the importance of being a healthy role model for the children. The Control Centers received 8 trainings in year 1, 4 trainings in year 2 and 4 trainings in year 3 all related to the injury prevention and safety awareness. Childcare center teachers who participated in the program received in-service hours. A total of 180 teachers were awarded in-service hours for participating in trainings. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Dr. Natale and Dr. Messiah serve on multiple local, state and national obesity prevention committees and have shared the results of this study. They are working on phase II of the project which is a train-the-trainer model. In addition, results have been disseminated through the Community Advisory Committee that includes parents and teachers from the local communities. This has served as a means of disseminating the importance of this project to those who are not usually aware of research activities. In addition, we have conducted presentations of the topic of obesity prevention at various local meetings and workshops as well as national conventions. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Major Activities A randomized controlled trial was conducted in 28 centers. Children and parents were followed for a period of three years. This gave us the opportunity to test the long-term goal of this project which was to develop and evaluate a multifaceted obesity prevention intervention in the early childcare setting, targeting low-income, multiethnic children. Results suggest that a preschool-based obesity prevention intervention that targets parents and teachers as change-agents to maintain healthy weight in 2-to-5 year olds is effective in improving outcomes in child participants. In addition, results are being maintained 12-to-18 months after the intervention has ended. Objectives Met Goal 1 achieved: A role modeling curriculum was developed. Goal 2 achieved: A clustered randomized controlled trial was conducted with 28 childcare centers. Goal 3 Achieved: we have assessed the efficacy of a center-based multi-level (child, teacher and parent components) obesity prevention intervention program targeting 3-5 year olds. The outcomes are listed below. Goal 4 achieved. A toolkit has been developed for purposes of dissemination. Significant Results Effect of Role Modeling: 6 month Key Findings. 1. Parents in the intervention centers were significantly more likely to eat a variety of vegetables versus control parents (p= 0.002). Non-Hispanic white intervention parents were significantly more likely to serve fruit as snacks (p=0.05) and a home cooked/family meal (p=0.02) than their control group counterparts. The majority of parents (89%) who increased fruit consumption had children whose BMIs either stayed the same or improved (p=.01). For those parents who increased buying fruit, 92% of the children either stayed the same or got better (p=.03) and 91% of parents who increased buying vegetables had children whose BMIs either stayed the same or improved (p=.01). Finally, 91% of families who increased the frequency of eating a meal together had a child whose BMI stayed the same or improved (p=.01). 2. Analysis of change of teacher/parent food behavior scale scores (factor scores that included fruit, vegetable, low fat milk, water, etc items) showed that at 6-month follow-up teachers in the control group showed no significant change in positive food behaviors while teachers in the intervention group did show a significant change which included consuming more fresh produce and water and less high sugar and simple carbohydrate snacks (control mean±SE: 0.08±0.14 p=0.564; intervention mean±SE: 0.32± 0.15 p=0.046.). Effect of Role Modeling: 12 month key findings 1) Analysis of change of teacher/parent food behavior scale scores showed that at 1 year follow-up, teachers in the intervention group were more likely than controls to consume more fresh produce and water and less high sugar and simple carbohydrate snacks (control mean ± SE: 0.08±0.14 p=0.56; intervention mean±SE: 0.32± 0.15 p=0.04.); (2) At one year, intervention children had a greater reduction in BMI than controls (-4.0+/- 3.2 % vs.14.7+/- 6.2%; p=0.02). Effect of Role Modeling: 18 month Key Findings. 1. Teachers in the intervention arm significantly increased their mean servings of fish (0.3 to 1.4 times/week, p<0.01), and were trending toward a significant increase in servings of vegetables with the main course (1.3 to 1.7 times/week, p=0.08). 2. Children in the intervention arm significantly increased (1) the times they were active per day from 3.8 at baseline to 5.0 at 18-month post (p<0.001); (2) the number of fresh fruit servings per day (1.2 to 1.5, p<0.001), the weekly servings of fish (0.3 to 0.9, p<0.001), times weekly they ate chicken without the skin (1.9 to 2.1 p=0.04), times weekly they are vegetables with their main meal (1.3 to 1.5, p<0.001), and significantly decreased the times per week they drank soda (0.9 to 0.7, P= 0.01) while children in the control group significantly increased their weekly servings of high carbohydrate snacks (1.5 to 1.8, p<0.001). 3. Half (50%) of obese and 54% of overweight children in the HC2 intervention schools decreased their BMI %ile at 18-month follow up while the control group showed increased BMI %iles in the overweight group in particular. The majority of those who were normal weight in the intervention arm at baseline remained normal weight at 18-months post. Key Outcomes Our findings suggest that obesity prevention programs implemented in the childcare center setting are feasible and represent an important venue in which to promote healthy eating behaviors and physical activity for young children who may be at risk for becoming overweight. Caregivers impact the nutritional habits of the children under their care, not only by making choices regarding the types of foods that are available but by influencing children’s attitudes and beliefs about that food. Yet, health and nutrition are often overlooked in preschool curriculums. Our study shows true promise and potential for adaptability and replicability in other childcare centers. We have shown success with one of the most hard-to-reach groups, overcome barriers to parent and teacher participation and attrition. As childhood obesity continues to be a topic of national interest it is in the best interest of health care providers, educators, and parents to begin thinking about this as a priority for ensuring the healthy future of our community’s children.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2011
Citation:
Steinman, J., Natale, R., Lopez-Mitnik,G., Uhlhorn,S., Scott, S., Messiah, S., Sanders, L.. The Strength of Family Risk Factors In Relation to Pediatric Obesity. Presented at the annual conference of the International Society of Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD). Miami Beach, FL. October 19-22, 2011.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Messiah, S., Lopez-Mitnik, G., Uhlhorn, S., Scott,S., Natale,R., Miller, TL. Relationship Between Birthweight, Infant Feeding Behaviors and Body Mass Index Among Multiethnic Preschool-Age Children. Presented at the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Society (PAS) conference in Boston, MA April 28-May 1,2012
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Natale, R., Messiah, S. Lopez-Mitnik, G., Scott, S., Uhlhorn, S., Delamater, A. The Effect of a Preschool-Based Obesity Prevention Intervention on Parent/Caregiver Healthy Lifestyle Role-Modeling Behaviors for Their 2-to-5 Year Old Children. Presented at the annual meeting of the Pediatric Academic Society (PAS) conference in Boston, MA April 28-May 1,2012.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2011
Citation:
Natale, R., Messiah, S, Sanders, L, Scott, s, Uhlhorn,S Lopez-Mitnik, g, Delamater, A. Healthy Caregivers- Healthy Children. Presented at the American Psychological Association (APA) annual convention, Washington DC, August 4, 2011
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2011
Citation:
Natale, R., Sanders, L., Uhlhorn, S. Utilizing Childcare Centers as a Model for Community-based Prevention Efforts. Presented at the Association for Prevention Research and Teaching, Washington, DC March 17-19, 2011.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2010
Citation:
Natale, R., Sanders, L., Uhlhorn, S. Improving the Health Status of Low Income Ethnic Minorities. Presented at the World Forum, Pallisades, NY, Nov 8-12, 2010.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2010
Citation:
Natale, R., Messiah, S., Sanders, L. Healthy Caregivers-Healthy Children. Presented at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Annual convention. Denver, CO June 21, 2010
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2010
Citation:
Natale, R., Sanders, L., Uhlhorn, S. Improving Child Health using a Childcare Consultation Model. Presented at the Head Start National Research conference, Washington, DC, June 22-24, 2010
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Under Review
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Natale R, Messiah SE, Asfour L, Uhlhorn S. 2013. Caregivers Country of Birth Is a Significant Determinant of Accurate Perception of Preschool-age Childrens Weight Health Education and Behavior, under review as a revise and resubmit
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Under Review
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Natale RA, McCollister K, Uhlhorn SB, Messiah SE. 2103. Cost effectiveness of an childcare center-based early childhood obesity prevention intervention. American Journal of Public Health, under review.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Natale R, Messiah SE, Asfour L, , Uhlhorn S. 18 month-effect of an Obesity Prevention Program on Body Mass Index and Nutrition Practices among Multiethnic, Inner-city Preschool Children. To be submitted to the American Journal of Health Promotion, December, 2013.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Messiah SE, Asfour L, Arheart KL, Uhlhorn S, Natale R. Relationship Between Birthweight, Infant Feeding Behaviors and Body Mass Index Among Multiethnic Preschool-Age Children. To be submitted to the Journal of Pediatrics, December, 2013.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Natale R, Messiah SE, Asfour L, , Uhlhorn S, Messiah SE. Parent and Teacher Healthy Lifestyle Role-Modeling as an Effective Early Childhood Obesity Prevention Strategy. Journal of Preventative Medicine. To be submitted, December 2013.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Natale R, Hapeman-Scott S, Messiah SE, Mesa Schrack M, Uhlhorn S, Delamater A. 2013. Design and methods for evaluating an early childhood obesity prevention program in the childcare center setting. BMC Public Health 13(1):78. PMID: 23356862
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Natale, R., Messiah, S. Lopez-Mitnik, G., Scott, S., Uhlhorn, S., Delamater, A. Obesity Prevention in Childcare Centers: The Nutritional Gatekeeper. Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP), Washington DC , February, 2013
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Natale, R., Schrack, M., & Stuart, L. Healthy Caregivers-Healthy Children. FLAEYC Fit and Fabulous Miami, FL February
22, 2013
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Natale, R., Messiah, S. Lopez-Mitnik, G., Scott, S., Uhlhorn, S., Delamater, A. Acculturation Significantly Influences Body Mass Index in Ethnically Diverse Preschool-Age Children. Head Start National Research Conference, Washington DC, June 16-19 2012.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Messiah, S. E., Lipshultz, S. E., Natale, R. A. and Miller, T. L. 2013. The imperative to prevent and treat childhood obesity: why the world cannot afford to wait. Clinical Obesity. doi: 10.1111/cob.12033
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Natale, R., Messiah, S., Asfor, L, Uhlhorn, S., Arehart, K, Delamater, A. Healthy Caregivers-Healthy Children (HC2): A Childcare Center Based Obesity Prevention Program. Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior (SNEB) Annual Conference, Portland, OR, August 2013
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Natale, R., Townsend, M., Uhlhorn, S., Messiah, S. Factor Validity of a Pediatric Risk Assessment Tool. American Public Health Association (APHA) November 4, 2013
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Natale, R., Messiah, S. Lopez-Mitnik, G., Scott, S., Uhlhorn, S. Healthy Caregivers-Healthy Children (HC2): A Childcare Center Based Obesity Prevention Program. Society for Nutrition and Education Behavior (SNEB) July 14-17 2012 Washington, DC.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Natale, R., Messiah, S. Lopez-Mitnik, G., Scott, S., Uhlhorn, S., Delamater, A. Acculturation Significantly Influences Body Mass Index in Ethnically Diverse Preschool-Age Children. Head Start National Research Conference, Washington DC, June 16-19 2012.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2011
Citation:
Natale, R, Lopez-Mitnik, G., Messiah, S. Scott, S., Uhlhorn, S., Delamater, A. Parental Weight Perception in Ethnically Diverse Preschool-Age Children. Presented at The Obesity Society annual convention Orlando, FL October 2, 2011.
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Progress 04/01/12 to 03/31/13
Outputs
Target Audience: The target audience served this year consisted of 28 childcare centers and 1100 children. The health education intervention was conducted with 12 centers and the safety program was conducted with the 16 control centers. The population demographics were similar to those in past years. Sixty percent of children were Hispanic and ‘Other’ (31%, majority from Central American countries), Cuban (15%), Mexican (10%); other groups included Haitian (15%), non-Hispanic Black (12%), and non-Hispanic White (2%). The majority of caregivers were born outside of the US (71%). Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Childcare center teachers who participated in the program received in-service hours. A total of 150 teachers were awarded four in-service hours for participating in four booster sessions this past year. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? We have established a Community Advisory Committee that includes parents and teachers from the local communities and has served as a means of disseminating the importance of this project to those who are not usually aware of research activities. In addition, we have conducted presentations of the topic of obesity prevention at various local meetings and workshops. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? The grant has ended and we are currently in a no-cost extension that will allow us to continue to publish the results of our work.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Goal 1 achieved: A role modeling curriculum was developed. Goal 2 achieved: A clustered randomized controlled trial was conducted with 28 childcare centers. Goal 3 Achieved: we have assessed the efficacy of a center-based multi-level (child, teacher and parent components) obesity prevention intervention program targeting 3-5 year olds. The outcomes are listed below. Goal 4 achieved. A toolkit has been developed for purposes of dissemination. Effect of Role Modeling: 6 month Key Findings. 1. Parents in the intervention centers were significantly more likely to eat a variety of vegetables versus control parents (p= 0.002). Non-Hispanic white intervention parents were significantly more likely to serve fruit as snacks (p=0.05) and a home cooked/family meal (p=0.02) than their control group counterparts. The majority of parents (89%) who increased fruit consumption had children whose BMIs either stayed the same or improved (p=.01). For those parents who increased buying fruit, 92% of the children either stayed the same or got better (p=.03) and 91% of parents who increased buying vegetables had children whose BMIs either stayed the same or improved (p=.01). Finally, 91% of families who increased the frequency of eating a meal together had a child whose BMI stayed the same or improved (p=.01). 2. Analysis of change of teacher/parent food behavior scale scores (factor scores that included fruit, vegetable, low fat milk, water, etc items) showed that at 6-month follow-up teachers in the control group showed no significant change in positive food behaviors while teachers in the intervention group did show a significant change which included consuming more fresh produce and water and less high sugar and simple carbohydrate snacks (control mean±SE: 0.08±0.14 p=0.564; intervention mean±SE: 0.32± 0.15 p=0.046.). Effect of Role Modeling: 12 month key findings 1) Analysis of change of teacher/parent food behavior scale scores showed that at 1 year follow-up, teachers in the intervention group were more likely than controls to consume more fresh produce and water and less high sugar and simple carbohydrate snacks (control mean ± SE: 0.08±0.14 p=0.56; intervention mean±SE: 0.32± 0.15 p=0.04.); (2) At one year, intervention children had a greater reduction in BMI than controls (-4.0+/- 3.2 % vs.14.7+/- 6.2%; p=0.02). Effect of Role Modeling: 18 month Key Findings. 1. Teachers in the intervention arm significantly increased their mean servings of fish (0.3 to 1.4 times/week, p<0.01), and were trending toward a significant increase in servings of vegetables with the main course (1.3 to 1.7 times/week, p=0.08). 2. Children in the intervention arm significantly increased (1) the times they were active per day from 3.8 at baseline to 5.0 at 18-month post (p<0.001); (2) the number of fresh fruit servings per day (1.2 to 1.5, p<0.001), the weekly servings of fish (0.3 to 0.9, p<0.001), times weekly they ate chicken without the skin (1.9 to 2.1 p=0.04), times weekly they are vegetables with their main meal (1.3 to 1.5, p<0.001), and significantly decreased the times per week they drank soda (0.9 to 0.7, P= 0.01) while children in the control group significantly increased their weekly servings of high carbohydrate snacks (1.5 to 1.8, p<0.001). 3. Half (50%) of obese and 54% of overweight children in the HC2 intervention schools decreased their BMI %ile at 18-month follow up while the control group showed increased BMI %iles in the overweight group in particular. The majority of those who were normal weight in the intervention arm at baseline remained normal weight at 18-months post. The long-term goal of this project was to develop, test, and evaluate a multifaceted obesity prevention intervention in the early childcare setting, targeting low-income, multiethnic children. Results suggest that a preschool-based obesity prevention intervention that targets parents and teachers as change-agents to maintain healthy weight in 2-to-5 year olds is effective in improving outcomes in child participants. In addition, results are being maintained 12-to-18 months after the intervention has ended.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Natale R, Hapeman-Scott S, Messiah SE, Mesa Schrack M, Uhlhorn S, Delamater A. 2013. Design and methods for evaluating an early childhood obesity prevention program in the childcare center setting. BMC Public Health 13(1):78. PMID: 23356862
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Under Review
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Natale, R, Uhlhorn, S, Lopez-Mitnik, G., Messiah, S., Delamater, A. . Perception of Child Body Mass Index Category Is Significantly Influenced By Parent Country of Birth, revise and resubmit to Health Education and Behavior, 2013.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Submitted
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Natale R, Messiah SE, Ashfor, L, Uhlhorn S, Delamater A. 2013. The Effect of Parent/Teacher Healthy Lifestyle Role-Modeling Behavior for Their 2-to-5 Year Old Children. Journal of Preventative Medicine, Under review
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Natale, R., Messiah, S. Lopez-Mitnik, G., Scott, S., Uhlhorn, S., Delamater, A Obesity Prevention in Childcare Centers: The Nutritional Gatekeeper. Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP), Washington DC , February, 2013
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Natale, R., Sanders, L, Page, M.. Efficacy of a Childcare Center-Based Obesity Prevention Program. Head Start National Research Conference, Washington DC, June 16-19 2012.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2012
Citation:
Natale, R., Messiah, S. Lopez-Mitnik, G., Scott, S., Uhlhorn, S., Delamater, A Acculturation Significantly Influences Body Mass Index in Ethnically Diverse Preschool-Age Children Head Start National Research Conference, Washington DC, June 16-19 2012
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
Natale, R., Schrack, M., & Stuart, L. Healthy Caregivers-Healthy Children. FLAEYC Fit and Fabulous Miami, FL February 22, 2013
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Progress 04/01/10 to 03/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The long-term goal of Healthy Caregivers-Healthy Children is to develop, test, and evaluate a theoretically-based, multifaceted obesity prevention intervention in the early child-care setting, targeting low-income, multiethnic children designed to decrease the incidence of early childhood obesity. To accomplish this goal, the following tasks were achieved in the first year of the project: Goal 1 achieved: A role modeling curriculum was developed. Goal 2 achieved: A clustered randomized controlled trial was conducted with 24 childcare centers. Programming targeted parents and teachers as role models. Parents and teachers were invited to participate in an 8 session curriculum lead by the EFNEP with an emphasis on role modeling. Furthermore, children in the treatment group participated in an 8 month OrganWise Guys curriculum with weekly sessions. Lastly, childcare center menus were changed to reduce the amount of juice served, increase water consumption, reduce high sugar snacks, and introduce more fresh fruits and vegetables. Some themes identified as the result of the HC2 program are: students identified the need to drink milk to ensure healthy bones and water for kidney functioning; the children talked openly about the fruits and vegetables they have tried and how they are good for you; children are able to identify and choose healthy drink and food options. In addition to the positive outcomes for the children, teachers also felt they were benefitting from participating in the program. Some of the feedback we received from the teachers included they themselves are exercising with the children outdoors each day. Also, teachers are incorporating nutrition and physical activities into other educational components. Teachers reported: serving more water to the students; incorporating cooking activities; recognizing the need to present themselves as positive role models; reducing the amount of red meat and replacing it with lean proteins (e.g. fish); and incorporating more fruits and vegetables into their own diets. Teachers expressed interest in starting their own gardens. Parents reported that when grocery shopping, children are refusing to purchase any soda or juice and are requesting to purchase water bottles instead. Additionally, parents are reporting that their children will now identify and request fruits and vegetables while grocery shopping. Parents also reported children's acceptance in trying unfamiliar foods like different vegetables. Goal 3 in progress: to assess the efficacy of a center-based multi-level (child, teacher and parent components) obesity prevention intervention program targeting 3-5 year olds. Goal 4 achieved. The role modeling curriculum was disseminated via the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program and the Cooperative Extension. The project was also shared with the Bipartisan Policy Center's new Nutrition and Physical Activity Initiative. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Low-income African American and Hispanic children aged 2-5, as well as their parents and teachers in childcare centers throughout Miami-Dade County, FL. The proposed intervention study is aimed at increasing healthy lifestyle behaviors in the target population by implementing nutrition based and physical activity policies in childcare centers, implementing a curriculum for children on importance of eating healthier, and developing role-modeling classes for parents and teachers to sustain the effects. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: The original target audience of 24 childcare centers was increased to 28 childcare centers so that we could meet the expected enrollment numbers.
Impacts
The findings of the study contribute significantly to current literature on sociodemographic variables that impact child BMI. Our results revealed that children whose parents were born outside of the US were significantly more likely to have a higher BMI percentile versus parents born in the US. Children whose parents did not speak English at all/spoke very poorly had children with significantly higher BMI percentile scores versus parents who reported they spoke English well. Parents who reported feeling "at home" in the US had children with significantly higher BMI percentiles versus parents who did not feel at home. Non Hispanic parents are more likely to have a right perception of their child's weight than Hispanic parents. In particular, Central America and Mexican parents were less likely to have a right perception of their child's weight than Other Caribbean Islanders parents. Our study fills an important gap in the literature on the role of parental ethnicity and acculturation on child BMI. Parents who do not speak English proficiently, were born outside of the US and who have not acclimated to the US have young children with increased BMI percentiles should be the target of role modeling efforts related to the prevention of early childhood obesity. Furthermore, qualitative data suggests that the HC2 program is feasible within this population and changes in food choices towards healthier options are taking place by the children, parents, and teachers. This is a first step in modifying lifestyle choices that are thought to take children off the trajectory of becoming overweight. Program results have been accepted for presentation at two national conferences including the American Psychological Association to be held in August of 2011 and The Obesity Society to be held in October of 2011.
Publications
- Natale, R, Messiah, S., Lopez-Mitnik, G., Scott, S. Uhlhorn, S., Sanders, L., Delamater, A. 2011. Familial Factors that Influence Body Mass Index in Ethnically Diverse Preschool Children, in review, 2011
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