PARENT DEMOGRAPHICS AND BEHAVIORS CONTRIBUTE TO OVERWEIGHT AND LOW FITNESS IN CHILDREN ON THE U.S./MEXICO BORDER

Abstract

This study describes the relationships between parent variables and body composition and aerobic fitness in 278 third grade children (8–10 year olds) in El Paso, TX. Parents were 97% Hispanic and 3% Anglo, mostly female (88%), of low to middle socioeconomic status (SES) and acculturation, and overweight (BMI = 27.82 ± 5.48, 44% overweight, 25% obese). Women indicated that they gained an average of 20.0 ± 20.4 kg when pregnant with their third grade child. Only 40% of the parents surveyed had at least one serving of fruit and/or vegetables a day and less than 1% ate five servings per day. Most parents were drinking whole milk several times a week. Only 25% of those adults surveyed were meeting the minimum ACSM/CDC recommendations for regular moderate physical activity. Parents most commonly reported physical activities such as walking (5 ± 22 days in the past month; 17 ± 34 min each time) and gardening (2 ± 5 days in past month; 28 ± 84 min each time) and sedentary activities such as watching television (19 ± 13 days in past month; 76 ± 84 min each time) and listening to music/radio (13 ± 14 days in past month; 59 ± 101 min each time). Independent of parent SES, acculturation, age, weight gained during pregnancy, and child birth weight, 31% of the variance in child BMI was explained by parent BMI, consumption of fast food, fried food, whole milk, and fruits and vegetables, total amount of time spent rollerblading, walking, gardening, cleaning, and total amount of time spent watching television, listening to music, talking on the phone, visiting, and going to church. Similar predictors were found to account for 34% of the variance in child aerobic fitness. It is clear that parent weight and behavior are related to children's health in a predominantly Mexican/American culture. Low rates of parental fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity might be critical factors in the development of child obesity on the U.S./Mexico border. Funded by the American Heart Association Patient Care and Outcomes Research Grant program (#9970182N)