Obesity Prevention for Mexican American Children: For Whom Is It Most Effective?

Abstract

The objective of the current study was to determine which Mexican American children benefited most from an obesity prevention program. Data used were taken from a larger randomized clinical trial in which participants received either an intensive (IP) or a self-help (SH) program for preventing the onset of adult obesity. Children in IP lost significantly more weight than those in SH. This study used children from the IP (n = 106) condition only. Children aged 10 to 14 years were classified according to weight status (normal (N), n = 35; at risk of overweight (ARO), n = 21; overweight (O), n = 50). N children showed no change in body mass index standardized for age and gender (zbmi; t = .85, p < .001 at 12 months) and little change in weight status over time (>97% remained N). ARO and O children, however, showed significant changes in zbmi (t = .54, p < .01; t = .81, p < .001, respectively) and weight status from baseline to 12- months (48% of ARO changed to N and 10% of O changed to ARO). The decrease in zbmi for ARO children was significantly greater than that of the O children (F = 4.8, p < .05) indicating intervention may be most effective for ARO children. We concluded that it is important to understand differences in how prevention programs benefit participants from various weight classifications. Supported in part by a gift from the Kellogg Company and a grant from the USDA (ARS 2533759358).