Factors associated with obesity in Chinese-American children.
OBJECTIVE
A cross-sectional study design was utilized to examine factors associated with obesity in Chinese-American children.


METHODS
Chinese-American children (8 to 10 years old) and their mothers (N = 68) in California participated in the study.


METHODS
Mothers completed demographic information, the Family Assessment Device, Attitudes Toward Child Rearing Scale, and Suinn-Lew Asian Self-identity Acculturation Scale. Children's body mass index was measured, and children completed a self-administered physical activity checklist, Food Frequency Questionnaire, and the Schoolagers' Coping Strategies Inventory.


RESULTS
Results indicated three variables that predicted children's body mass index: older age, a more democratic parenting style, and poor communication (R2=.263, F=8.727, p = .0001). Children whose mothers had a low level of acculturation were also more likely to be overweight than were children whose mothers were highly acculturated.


CONCLUSIONS
This study revealed that children's ages, a democratic parenting style, and poor family communication contribute to increased body mass index in Chinese-American children. Other factors related to children's BMI and dietary intake include acculturation level of the mother and family affective responses. Future studies should examine the change in BMI over time and in different age groups and why parenting and family communication impact children's body weight.
Chen
Jyu-Lin
JL
University of California, San Francisco Department of Family Health Care Nursing, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Kennedy
Christine
C
D000069:Acculturation; D000328:Adult; D001213:Asian / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000208:ethnology*; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D003142:Communication; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004034:Diet Surveys; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D007214:Indonesia / Q000208:ethnology; D008296:Malaysia / Q000208:ethnology; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016487:Parenting / Q000208:ethnology; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan / Q000208:ethnology