Perspectives on obesity and barriers to control from workers at a community center serving low-income Hispanic children and families.
Community center workers serving children and families in a predominantly Hispanic, low-income neighborhood were interviewed qualitatively, to ascertain their perspectives on obesity and barriers to control and prevention, to design a practical and culturally appropriate intervention for obesity control. All 19 respondents recognized obesity as a problem, identified healthy eating and physical activity as requisites for controlling obesity, and mentioned fast food and cultural influences in Hispanic families as contributory factors. Lack of time emerged as a major barrier to all preventive practices related to eating healthy or being physically active. Safety concerns and lack of safe places for walking and running were mentioned as a barrier to being physically active. Further studies have to be conducted with parents of at-risk children, to understand time constraints. Community health workers should be sensitive to issues of time constraints and incorporate time management recommendations into obesity prevention and education.
Chatterjee
Nilesh
N
Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4243, USA. nilesh@hlkn.tamu.edu
Blakely
Debra E
DE
Barton
Casey
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003144:Communication Barriers; D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013781:Texas