title: Perspectives on obesity and barriers to control from workers at a community center serving low-income Hispanic children and families.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4243, USA. nilesh@hlkn.tamu.edu
authors.forename: Nilesh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chatterjee
authors.forename: Debra E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Blakely
authors.forename: Casey
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barton
mesh_terms: 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