Factors related to overweight and risk for overweight status among low-income Hispanic children.
The purpose of this research was to investigate the agent, host, and environmental factors that are related to overweight status in a sample of low-income Hispanic toddlers who were enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children in a large southwestern city in the United States. Among children at risk for overweight status, the mothers' body mass index (BMI) and the number of servings of fat in the children's daily diet were positively associated with their weight/height percentiles whereas servings of protein in the daily diet and the children's reporting of hunger were negatively associated with their weight/height percentiles. Among overweight children, age was positively associated with their weight/height percentiles. No other variable in the ecological model was associated with normal weight or overweight children and their weight/height percentiles. Different approaches to dietary counseling and health promotion may be indicated based on a child's weight/height percentile or BMI.
Reifsnider
Elizabeth
E
School of Nursing, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA. elreifsn@utmb.edu
Keller
Colleen S
CS
Gallagher
Martina
M
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009035:Mothers; D050177:Overweight; D011203:Poverty; D012307:Risk Factors; D015206:Southwestern United States