Perceptions of health status and play activities in parents of overweight Hispanic toddlers and preschoolers.
Childhood overweight among lower socioeconomic, Hispanic children has increased. Interviews regarding health status and play patterns were conducted with 76 predominantly Hispanic mothers of overweight toddlers and preschoolers served by Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Most participants believed their child was healthy and half were unconcerned about their child's weight. Most parents reported having a safe place to play and access to a playground, although gender differences were found. Access to an outside play area was related to amount of active play activities. Children watched an average of 1.7 hours per day of television. Health professionals must partner with parents to address childhood obesity.
Rich
Shannon S
SS
Departments of Psychology and Philosophy, Texas Woman's University, Denton, TX 76204, USA. srich@mail.twu.edu
DiMarco
Nancy M
NM
Huettig
Carol
C
Essery
Eve V
EV
Andersson
Evelyn
E
Sanborn
Charlotte F
CF
D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006304:Health Status; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010988:Play and Playthings; D011203:Poverty