Exploration of Changes in Low-Income Latino Families' Beliefs about Obesity, Nutrition, and Physical Activity: A Qualitative Post-Intervention Study.

Rochelle Cason-Wilkerson,Shauna Goldberg Scott,Karen Albright,Matthew Haemer

doi:10.3390/bs12030073

Abstract

Objective: To investigate changes in beliefs around obesity, nutrition, and physical activity among low-income majority Latino families who participated in a community-based family-inclusive obesity intervention. Methods: Six focus groups were conducted with a predominately Latino low-income population, who completed the Healthy Living Program (HeLP). Two groups were conducted in English and four groups were conducted in Spanish, and were recorded, translated, transcribed, and analyzed for thematic content. Two coders independently coded transcripts then reflexive team analysis with three members was used to reach consensus. Results: Thirty-seven caregivers representing thirty-three families participated in focus groups. A number of themes emerged around changes in beliefs about obesity, nutrition, and physical activity (PA) as a result of the HeLP curriculum. Regarding obesity, the themes that emerged focused on the acceptability of children being overweight and the importance of addressing weight at an early age. Changes in beliefs regarding nutrition emerged, noting changes in the use of food as a reward, the multiple benefits of a healthy diet, and for some participants change in their beliefs around the adaptability of traditional foods and habits. Regarding physical activity, themes emerged around the difficulty of engaging in PA due to unsafe conditions and finding creative indoor and outdoor activities with whole family participation and becoming aware of the benefits of PA. Conclusions: Parental changes in beliefs about obesity, nutrition, and physical activity as a result of a family-inclusive weight management program in a population of low-income predominately Latino families can aid and inform the development of future weight management programs for this population.

Highlights

Introduction published maps and institutional affilChildhood obesity has been widely recognized as a major public health problem for more than two decades, and progress toward reversing this epidemic has been unacceptably slow, especially for children from low-income and minority groups
Focus groups were conducted with parents who participated in the Healthy Living
While many weight management programs target at least part of the family as the unit of change, many typically only directly intervene upon a single child and a single caregiver [19]

Summary

Introduction

Childhood obesity has been widely recognized as a major public health problem for more than two decades, and progress toward reversing this epidemic has been unacceptably slow, especially for children from low-income and minority groups. The prevalence of obesity remains higher among Hispanic/Latino children of all ages (20.9%) than among non-Hispanic whites (16.9%) in the U.S [1,2]. Latino children are disproportionately affected by co-morbidities of obesity, such as type II diabetes, increase in cardiovascular risk factors, hypertension, and fatty liver disease [3]. Low family income is associated with a higher prevalence of obesity for Hispanic children, who are more than twice as likely to live in poverty than non-Hispanic white children in the U.S [4]. Though Latino children face marked disparities related to obesity iations

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion